Karolina Muchova saved a match point before coming through an epic deciding-set tie-break to beat Coco Gauff and secure a first Wimbledon final against fellow Czech Linda Noskova.
Muchova started the semi-final the stronger of the pair but Gauff hit back, and they could barely be separated in a high-quality third set.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff came back from 4-1 down in the resulting tie-break and had match point on her serve, before sending a simple forehand into the net tape.
Muchova, the 10th seed, also missed her first match point but it was she who stood triumphant at the end after an astonishing 6-2 1-6 7-6 (12-10) win in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.
Muchova had reached four major semi-finals before Thursday’s match against Gauff, but only once made the final – at the 2023 French Open, where she was beaten in three sets by Iga Swiatek.
After clinching victory, Muchova buried her face in her towel as she took a moment to absorb the enormity of her achievement.
“It was very nerve-wracking. I don’t even know what I’m saying, I’m shaking and trying to sink it in,” the 29-year-old said.
“Honestly, it was such a big fight. It was a rollercoaster – match point and then match point down. You don’t have time to think.”
The 21-year-old Noskova reached her first major final by withstanding Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk’s second-set fightback to prevail 6-4 6-4.
It is the first time two women representing the same nation have contested a Grand Slam final since the 2017 US Open between Americans Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys.
