Karolina Muchova saved a match point before coming through an epic deciding-set tie-break to beat Coco Gauff and reach a first Wimbledon final against fellow Czech Linda Noskova.
Muchova began the semi-final better but was pegged back by Gauff and the pair were inseparable in a high-quality third set.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff bounced back from 4-1 down in the tie-break and had a match point on her own serve, but sent a simple forehand into the net tape.
10th seed Muchova also missed her first match point, but it was she who emerged victorious at the end after an astonishing 6-2 1-6 7-6 (12-10) victory in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.
Muchova had been to four major semi-finals before Thursday’s match against Gauff, but she only reached one final, at the 2023 French Open, where she was defeated in three sets by Iga Swiatek.
Muchova, who took the win, took a moment to take in the magnitude of her achievement, burying her face in her towel.
“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.”
Noskova, 21, reached her first major final after surviving a second-set fightback from Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk to win 6-4 6-4.
The first time since Americans Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys met in the US Open final in 2017 that two players from the same country have played off for a Grand Slam title.
