Karolina Muchova v Linda Noskova: Wimbledon 2026 women’s singles final – live

Key events

Speaking of which … here’s Simon Cambers’s preview of the women’s final:

It feels somehow fitting that at the end of one of the most open women’s singles events in history, two Czech players should find themselves fighting it out for the biggest title in the game. Saturday’s clash between Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova is the first all-Czech Wimbledon final, but it is also the latest example of a long line of Czech players who have found grass the surface on which to show their best.

Martina Navratilova, perhaps the greatest female player of all time, started the ball rolling when she won the first of her record nine Wimbledon titles in 1978 (she was officially a US citizen by the time she played Hana Mandlikova in the 1986 final).

Jana Novotna won in 1998, Petra Kvitova triumphed twice, in 2011 and 2014, and with Marketa Vondrousova winning in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova following up in 2024, it means that whoever wins on Saturday will provide Czechia with a third Wimbledon champion in four years and sixth of the open era.

It is a remarkable achievement, a conveyor belt of talent that must be the envy of the rest of the world. Muchova will be appearing in her second grand slam final, having lost to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2023 while the 21-year-old Noskova, eight years younger and seeded one spot higher at No 9, is appearing in her first.

Both women won grass-court titles in the run-up to Wimbledon.

In terms of experience, Muchova has a clear edge and a game that would seem perfect for grass, even if her record at Wimbledon has been somewhat odd.

She reached the quarter-finals in her first two appearances but has lost in the first round in each of the last four years. Injuries, confidence and occasionally someone playing out of her skin were all contributing factors, but she has everything: a good serve, fine athleticism, power, a great slice and variety.

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Meanwhile Jana Kovackova and Katerina Zajickova have won the girls’ doubles title … as if the Czechs don’t already have enough talent …

There was also victory for Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid earlier in the men’s wheelchair doubles final, as the top seeds came from a set down to beat Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez and Japan’s Tokito Oda 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. It’s their seventh Wimbledon doubles title together. Hewett – and Oda – will be back tomorrow to contest the singles final.

“I think this is a fantastic example of the joy doubles can bring,” continues Patten, referencing the ATP’s plans to reduce doubles draws and cut prize money. “I believe we should be growing opportunities in tennis for kids, whether they’re doubles players, singles players, from the UK, Finland, Croatia, El Salvador … we should be growing the sport, not taking opportunities away.” He then reveals his fiancee isn’t in the stands, because she’s a doctor and has been on call all week. “I hit a yellow tennis ball and she saves lives. I’m so proud of her for what she does, she works way harder than me.” He shouldn’t be doing himself down too much, though. The Wimbledon title in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and now Wimbledon again in 2026. What a team Patten and Heliovaara are.

Heliovaara is in tears; Patten just can’t stop smiling. And now it’s time to collect the trophy. Gone are the days when the doubles champions would have to trudge up into the Royal Box, as the All England Club chair, Debbie Jevans, presents the trophy to the duo on court.

“It’s unbelievable, doing it twice,” says Heliovaara. “I want to thank Henry for being the best partner in the world.” Patten quips: “I owe Harri my career. When I started with Harri, he took a chance on me … and it turned out to be the best decision he ever made.”

Britain's Patten and Finland's Heliovaara win men's doubles title!

Currently on Centre Court, Britain’s Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara are celebrating wildly, with Heliovaara even pulling off a forward roll, having just reclaimed the title they first won two years ago, defeating El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo and Croatia’s Mate Pavic in two tight sets, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3)! A terrific performance in the tie-breaks. So the recent British domination in the men’s doubles continues: it’s the fourth year in a row there’s been at least one home name on the trophy, after Neal Skupski won in 2023 and Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in 2025.

Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara with their silverware. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Preamble

Tennis whites. Strawberries and cream. The Queue. Roger Federer. Czech women’s singles champions. Some things are so synonymous with Wimbledon that it should come as no real shock that Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova have made it this far, even though both are appearing in their first Wimbledon final, as they seek to join the long line of Czech-born champions in Navratilova, Novotna, Kvitova, Vondrousova and Krejcikova. Perhaps the only surprise, given how dominant their country is on grass, is that it’s taken this long to see an all-Czech final here.

These two Czech mates share more than the same nationality. They’re friends too, teaming up for the doubles at the 2024 Olympics and practising together on Centre Court before their semi-finals on Thursday, when Muchova came from match point down in that extraordinary final-set tie-break against Coco Gauff and Noskova nervelessly defeated the in-form Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. For both those were their 11^th victories in 12 matches on grass this summer, with Muchova taking the Bad Homburg title and Noskova winning in Berlin last month; they really do have momentum to burn in this Wimbledon heatwave.

But there are differences between them as well, in seniority and style. This is Muchova’s second grand slam final, having lost to Iga Swiatek at the 2023 French Open, before a serious wrist injury stalled her progress. At 29, she knows she may never get a better opportunity, while for Noskova, who’s eight years younger, seeded one place higher at No 9 and had never previously been beyond a major quarter-final, this could be the start of something special. And while Noskova’s game has variety and she isn’t afraid to come to the net (in true Czech style), Muchova’s mix of power and touch, of spin and slice and speed, is so masterful she’s often been compared to Federer.

A Czech player who plays like Federer winning the title? Well, it couldn’t get any more Wimbledon than that.

Play begins: at 4pm BST (so for the second successive year it’s a later start). And remember you can get in touch in the usual way. It would be great to hear from you.