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Saturday, July 11, 2026

Educating Linda


Sometimes a moment can change everything, and sometimes everything can change.

21-year old Linda Noskova has experienced both ends of that spectrum during her still-early career, and she would do so again today on Centre Court on the biggest day in her tennis life.

But it's all right... everything turned out just fine.



A few months ago, Noskova was a big-hitting young would-be star who'd challenged big-name players on multiple occasions in the past, but usually came up *just* short of coming out on top, often after forcing a tie-break or 3rd set, or holding a break lead at a crucial moment before being caught in the end. She defeated then-#1 Iga Swiatek en route to the Australian Open QF two seasons ago, but since then hadn't quite seemed to gather the inner belief that she really *could* rise to the top against anyone, anywhere.

The Czech came into this spring having one won just one tour title, going 1-5 in WTA finals from 2023-25. But something changed this grass season. To be fair, maybe *last* year's Round of 16 run at SW19 played a part. It was run that ended with a three-set loss to eventual finalist Amanda Anisimova, one that proved yet again that Noskova was *close* to *something*. This year, she retuned to this brief section of the schedule loaded for bear, winning the Berlin title and injecting herself into the women's discussion at SW19 with so many of the top-ranked players arriving in London with spotty form in recent months.

After losing a set in the 2nd Round to Camila Osorio (in retrospect, a heck of a performance from the Colombian), then saving a MP in the 3rd Round against Sorana Cirstea, Noskova seemed to "graduate" from would-be contender to a player who truly looked like she felt as if she *could*, if not *would*, win this Wimbledon. With flat power, a calm and confident demeanor, and the ability to raise her game to an untouchable late-in-set level in recent rounds, Noskova barreled her way through her last three matches without losing a set. "I got this" seemed to be her outward mindset. Even if her insides weren't *100%* on board, it sure didn't look that way on the outside. And, often, that's more than half the battle, isn't it?

If she could keep her head down and more forward, shark-like, through the final as she has the second week, the women's title seemed Noskova's to lose.

But her opponent, Karolina Muchova, has been in "peak" form for most of this season. In 2026, she's put together the best half-season of her career as she's (finally) maintained her health, and as a result been able to gather some sense of momentum and match toughness for perhaps the longest stretch of her tennis life. After not having won a title since 2019, she won two in the season's first half, including one on the grass (her first) just a few weeks ago. She's the only player this season to record Top 10 wins on all three surfaces.

It's been a sight to see, as Muchova's is a most beautiful game, filled with the sort of variety and flair that can raise tennis to an art form. Having been tested and prevailed over the course of the second week at Wimbledon, she ousted three straight major title winners en route to her second career slam final, saving a MP in the semis and claiming an epic 22-point MTB over Coco Gauff on the strength of a series of swallow-hard moments and iconic points (a diving volley!) that will forever remain a part of the tennis resume and mind's eye memory of the Czech at her best once everything is said and done and her racket skills are but a memory that elicits a sly smile.

There should always be room in tennis for a player like Muchova, but her like are few and far between, and her presence -- especially in big moments on big stages like Centre Court -- should be appreciated in real time.

But the question remained whether she could bring her very best in this biggest moment, let alone against a power player in Noskova who has recently been seen moving through the draw in an almost dispassionate (until she converted MP), predator-like fashion.

Friends, practice partners and a past Olympics doubles duo (in '24 in Paris, where they played in the Bronze Medal match), #10-seed Muchova and #9 Noskova had remarkably similar paths to this Wimbledon final. Both won pre-SW19 singles title in Germany (Noskova in Berlin, and Muchova in Bad Homburg... meaning one would become the first to double-up at SW19 since 2004, and just the second since fellow Czech Jana Novotna in 1998), both saved a MP en route (Noskova in the 3rd Rd. vs. Cirstea, Muchova in the SF vs. Gauff) and they combined to eliminate four players in the second week who've combined to win a total of nine major titles since 2018, with Muchova defeating Barbora Krejcikova (2), Naomi Osaka (2) and Gauff (2), and Noskova taking out Madison Keys (1).

The winner, carrying both the weight and light of *all* the great Czechs on their back, would become the third different Czech woman to win the Wimbledon singles title in four years, and the fourth since 2014.



The first official all-CZE Wimbledon final (altogether now, "Overdue!"), a contrasting duel between the last two standing members of the "Crusher Collective," promised to highlight that vast and deep history built at this tournament over the decades by Muchova and Noskova's list of successful countrywomen, from Martina (Navratilova, the "original Czech") to Hana (Mandlikova) to Jana (Novotna) and Karolina (Pliskova), from Lucie (Safarova) to Petra (Kvitova), the Barboras (Strycova & Krejcikova) and Marketa (Vondrousova), too (all SF or better performers at the AELTC since the 1970s).

For going on parts of six decades, the Czech women have at different times embodied both the beauty and fragility of tennis at Wimbledon, starring in both exhilirating highs and devastating lows, but always doing so while possessing a sense of self that compelled them to straighten their backs and come back for more.

We'd see all the Czech hallmarks come to the fore in this single final, which would turn on a dime from being a somewhat sleepy display of one player's confidence (ala Navratilova) and calm under fire (ala Kvitova) to suddenly seeing the power and pressure of the moment bring everything crumbling down (ala Novotna) as one player's beautiful, all-court game (ala Mandlikova) and resilience (ala Vondrousova) emerged from trouble to hit its stride, only to see a "second chance" (also ala Jana) for the former to finish off a title run prove to be an opportunity too good to let slip through her fingers.



The women's final got underway a little past 4 p.m. London time in this second year of the new tradition of later-starting (by about two hours) women's and men's finals on the closing weekend of Wimbledon. Both women produced solid early service games on this sunny Saturday on which the Royal Box was littered with famous faces, from Princess Catherine to multiple Queens of the court (including the likes of former women's champions Billie Jean King, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli and Simona Halep, as well as some with closer ties to the two finalists in Navratilova and Kvitova).



Noskova was the one to break through, taking a 15/40 lead on Muchova's serve in game 4 and on her second BP chance firing a backhand winner down the line to lead 3-1. Muchova's trio of long forehands in the game showed her inability to keep pace with Noskova's flat power shots in the 1st set. This wasn't a good development for Muchova, whose chances seemed incumbent on not falling behind early, considering the solid and steady set-long pace that Noskova had showed the last few rounds. Muchova managed to get to deuce on Noskova's serve in the follow-up game, but Noskova held for 4-1 (w/ a drop shot, of all things).

While Muchova wasn't playing poorly by any stretch, she suddenly found herself with her back against the wall as Noskova's recent not-bothered-by-the-occasion-nor-her-opponent form was present from the opening moments of the match. To her credit, like Marta Kostyuk in SF vs. Noskova, Muchova was playing nearly as well as possible, but it still wasn't near enough to rise to a level night enough to get on top of the #9 seed. Noskova blasted a well-placed ace to lead 5-2, and continued out-hitting her countrywoman in the next game, going up love/40.

Muchova got the game to deuce, but Noskova didn't blink, and on her fifth BP/SP she lobbed over her fellow Czech to take the set at 6-2, with Muchova never really having been given a chance or time to use her variety-filled game since she'd been on her heels just trying to stay in rallies.



It was the seventh consecutive set won at this Wimbledon by Noskova since she faced down a MP in the 3rd Round, winning all of them with steady play throughout and a late surge to "close the deal": breaking serve to win the 1st vs. Keys and then taking a TB in the 2nd in the 4th Round, breaking Elise Mertens in the next to last game in both sets in the QF (and then serving things out a game later), then breaking Kostyuk to close out the 1st/2nd sets in the SF.

Having ended the 1st with a break, Noskova got the chance to be a half-step ahead on the scoreboard in the 2nd. She held at love in game 1, then took a love/30 lead in game 2. Muchova managed to hold, then went up 15/40 in the following game. But, with the door ajar to get a lead, she again couldn't take advangage of the few opportunities provided her. Noskova wiped away two BP with big, precise serves and on a third BP saw Muchova provide a long forehand error. A sprayed second serve return was followed by a Noskova serve/forehand combo to hold for 2-1.

In game 5, Noskova's pair of reflex volleys gave her a 30/15 led, then she pulled out her full aresenal, smacking a backhand down the line into the corner for 40/15, then with Muchova-like variety utilized a drop-lob-crosscourt slice winner combination to hold for 3-2. With the finish line in sight, Noskova continued to push forward, challenging Muchova to keep up. It seemed that she couldn't. Noskova took a 15/40 lead in game 6, getting the break with a Muchova forehand shot that found the net. With a power display in the next game, Noskova held at love with an ace up the service "T" to open up a 5-2 lead, having won 10 of 11 points.

Just four points from the title, though, Noskova finally began to feel the moment. After never wavering throughout the second week of play nor through nearly two sets in the final, as she later said, her "wrist froze" as she began to lose speed on her groundstrokes and serve. As a result, Muchova's gave began to pick up accordingly in a stretch of five games that suddenly flipped the script in the match.

Still, Noskova saw three MP opportunities in game 8 in what turned out to be a 12-minute hold of serve from Muchova completed on her third GP chance. With Noskova next serving for the match at 5-3, another long drama ensued. She took a 30/love lead, but saw Muchova win three consecutive points and reach BP with a crosscourt forehand winner. Noskova denied two BP before seeing her own fourth MP. She double-faulted, then proceded to save three straight Muchova BP with aces, and another BP with a service winner. But another DF handed Muchova a seventh BP opportunity, and Noskova's wide forehand completed the break and put the set back on serve at 5-4. It was Muchova's first converted BP in ten chances in the match.

In game 10, Noskova saw her fifth MP at 30/40, but Muchova held yet again. A game later, Noskova was clearly wobbling, and not the same player whose calm under pressure got her here and who not twenty minutes earlier had seemingly been fated to win the Wimbledon title. She ended the set with her worst service game all week, pushing a forehand off a short ball long to drop serve again and trail 6-5.

Muchova served out the set at 15, winning 7-5 as a match that was almost assuredly "over" was suddenly going to a 3rd set as she won her fifth straight game.



As Muchova and Noskova prepared to enter a 3rd set for the maiden major title for one of them, they'd combined to go 22-4 in deciders in 2026.

During her short trip off court between the 2nd and 3rd sets, it was reported on ESPN that reporter Kris Budden had seen Noskova stop before the glass-encased Venus Rosewater Dish during the stretch, apparently wordlessly staring at it. Whatever she gleaned in that moment, it seemed to shake her out of her spell.

Having regrouped, Noskova stopped the bleeding in the opening game of the final set, saving three BP to get the hold. She then broke Muchova in game 2. Despite seeing her GP chance in game 3 turned into a BP opportunity for Muchova, Noskova continued to keep her opponent off the board, holding for 3-0 as she seemed to be back to her recognizable second week form and emotional state.

Muchova pulled out her first tweener shot in game 5, but it was Noskova who fired a forehand winner a moment later to win the game. Back to barreling through Muchova, Noskova held for 4-1. From there things seemd to speed toward another "end game," with the drama being whether or not Noskova could hold her nerves *this* time. A solid hold at love put her up 5-2.



Serving once again for the title at 5-3, this time Noskova didn't waver. Her rally-ending forehand winner gave her a 30/15 edge, avoiding an early deficit, then an ace allowed her to reach championship point for a sixth time.

A big serve up the T off Muchova's racket finally ended things, as Noskova became the latest Czech champion at the All-England Club. Falling onto her back on the grass, her 6-2/5-7/6-3 victory etched Noskova's name into Wimbledon history.



After a sincere hug from the devasted Muchova, and burying her head in a towel in the changeover area (this time for a *good* reason), Noskova made her way into the stands for some love from her dad while, inside the Club, her name was being revealed on the Champions Wall (aka the Honour Boards).



Noskova is the youngest Wimbledon champion since 2011. That year, of course, it was another Czech -- Petra Kvitova -- who met all challenges to win her maiden title at SW19.

Nearly all Wimbledon roads lead back to a Czech, *some* Czech, eventually.



After Noskova received the Venus Rosewater Dish from Princess Kate, Muchova channeled yet another Czech (see?), in this case Jana Novotna, as she was brought to tears after having come up short in the Wimbledon final. Then she brought the humor, delightfully referring to Noskova as now being her "ex-friend."



When it was her turn to take the mic -- two years after another Czech (see?) Barbora Krejcikova claimed this title and talked of finding inspiriation in the memory of her former coach and mentor, the late Novotna (at the time, I said that Krejickova had "a Jana on her shoulder" during her run) -- Noskova's voice broke as she recalled her late mother, who'd died on the eve of that same 2024 Wimbledon, saying that she wouldn't be here if not for her.

Like Krejickova did for Novotna, Noskova looked up and blew a kiss into the clouds for her mom. Rather than "a Jana" on her shoulder, Noskova had come with an Ivana.



Afterward, clearing up a lingering mystery, Noskova confirmed Budden's account of her stopping to stare at the women's title dish between the 2nd and 3rd sets. Asked what she was thinkingg to herself at the time, she said, "I'm gonna get this trophy."

And so she went back out and did.

In the end, with both finalists displaying, in turn, moments of brilliance, resilience, humanity and a drive to succeed, Noskova and Muchova's efforts on this day managed to both honor and pay respect to all the Czech women that have come before them at Wimbledon, as well as those who'll now follow in "their" footsteps.

Jana would be proud, Martina and Petra and all the rest *are*, as well. Meanwhile, all the current and future members of the Crush of Czechs that populate the tour landscape -- be they a Valentova or Fruhvirtova, or Bartunkova or Kovackova, or any number of others waiting in the wings -- will now be able to look back on today and, say, "That's when I knew that that could be *me* one day."

And they'll be right.








=DAY 13 NOTES=
...a relative shocker today in the women's wheelchair final, as #1 Yui Kamiji not only defeated #2 Diede de Groot to join her as the only women with a Career Golden Slam in WC tennis (and having claimed all eight major s/d titles, *plus* all four at the Paralympics and year-end Masters), but she beat her 6-0/6-0.



De Groot had 11 double-faults on the day, and the match lasted just 48 minutes. One wonders if de Groot was dealing with some sort of injury/illness (she retired from the Roehampton singles final and didn't play the doubles final there last week), because such a scoreline seems well out of character, especially on a surface on which Kamiji has struggled during her career. But as of tonight there is still no story on the final on the Wimbledon website, so (throws up hands). Likely it was some combination of great Kamiji and subpar de Groot.

Kamiji is now 3-16 in slam finals against de Groot, picking up career win #12 in singles, and her 35th major overall. She'll try for the s/d sweep on Sunday.




...for the second straight major, top seeded Sun Xinran reached the girls' singles final only to lose to a Hordette. In Paris, it was Alisa Oktiabreva, and in London today it was #14 Anna Pushkareva. The Russian made it back-to-back slam wins for the Hordettes with a 5-7/6-3/6-4 victory.



In the girls' doubles final, #5-seeded Czechs Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova defeated top seeded Brazilians Victoria Luiza Barros & Nauhany Vitoria Leme da Silva in a MTB, winning 7-6(7)/6-7(5) [10-6] as they became the first duo to sweep the RG/WI titles in the same season since 2013 (two more Czechs, of course: Krejicikova/Siniakova).



It's the fourth straight major GD title run for Kovackova, who won the US/AO combo with her big sister Alena, and allows Jana to become the first girl to ever complete a Career Doubles Slam.

The only player to ever do it on the boys' side was Aussie Mark Kraztmann in 1983-84.







*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#9 Linda Noskova/CZE def. #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE 6-2/5-7/6-3

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#10 Guo/Mladenovic (CHN/FRA) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Ostapenko/Arevalo (LAT/ELS) def. Hunter/Polmans (AUS/AUS) 4-6/7-5/6-2

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED 6-0/6-0

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) vs. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN)

*GIRLS' SINGLES FINAL*
#14 Anna Pushkareva/RUS def. #1 Sun Xinran/CHN 5-7/6-3/6-4

*GIRLS' DOUBLES FINAL*
#5 J.Kovackova/Zajickova (CZE/CZE) def. #1 Barros/Leme da Silva (BRA/BRA) 7-6(7)/6-7(5) [10-6]

*GIRLS' 14-and-UNDER FINAL*
Isha Manchala/USA vs. Mariia Kocherzhenko/UKR

*INVITATIONAL DOUBLES*
Cibulkova/Strycova (SVK/CZE) vs. Rybakikova/Safarova (SVK/CZE)

*INVITATIONAL MIXED*
Hingis/Haas (SUI/GER) vs. C.Black/Philippoussis (ZIM/AUS)









...EVERY YEAR, THE MOST ODDLY DRAMATIC MOMENT... ON DAY 13:




...THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY... ON DAY 13:




...I GUESS THE "RED MEMO" WENT OUT FOR THE DAY... ON DAY 13:




...YAWN... ON DAY 13:

The continual efforts by ESPN to perpetuate the narrative that "the average tennis fan" doesn't know more than a handful of the names of the top women (Iga, Aryna, Coco, Naomi and *maybe* Elena, but only after she won Wimbledon, and Jessie, because she's from the U.S. and her parents own NFL/NHL teams) was in full force yet again before the Wimbledon final today. Of course, it's an annual tradition, to be later repeated in New York and then Melbourne.

According to the wisdom of Mary Joe Fernandez and Chris Fowler, both Muchova and Noskova were "unknown" by the "average fan," and only recognized by "tennis aficionados."

You might have been able to make a case a few months ago with Noskova, but one would like to think that most tennis who tune in to the majors -- unlike the "big event only watchers" that they seem to think are out there in such overwhelmingly out-of-proportion numbers -- *might* have some idea of players who either entered this Wimbledon or were just one week removed from having been ranked in the current Top 10, especially where Muchova is concerned, considering she's reached the semis of all four majors and was in the RG final just three years ago.

But I guess only "tennis aficionados" watch the semis, or any major other than Wimbledon.

Hmmmm, I wonder if those same "aficionados" that MJF talked about would have called Muchova, a clear all-around surface player (hello, SF+ in majors on three surfaces), a "grass court specialist," as *she* did just the other day?


...THE WALK OF DESTINY... ON DAY 13:




...WINK... ON DAY 13:




...NUMBERS... ON DAY 13:

With another Czech run at Wimbledon, we can say that while the likes of Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff (and Rybakina) have found themselves in the slam winner's circle while at the top of the rankings in recent years, the Czech Collective more than pulls their own from their position a bit further back.

14 of the last 18 majors have been won by Swiatek (5), Sabalenka (4), Gauff (2) or a Czech (3).

16 of the last 18 majors have been won by Swiatek (5), Sabalenka (4), Gauff (2), Rybakina (2) or a Czech (3).

Who wants to bet against *one* of them emerging in New York, as well?









Meet the new (Wimbledon) boss--she's Czech, of course womenwhoserve.blogspot.com/2026/07/meet... #Wimbledon #WTA

[image or embed]

— Diane Elayne Dees (@womenwhoserve.bsky.social) July 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM














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*RECENT WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS*
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE
2024 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2025 Iga Swiatek, POL
2026 Linda Noskova, CZE

*AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS*
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Mirra Andreeva, RUS (2026 RG)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
19 = Coco Gauff, USA (2023 US)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
21 = Coco Gauff, USA (2025 RG)
21 = Linda Noskova, CZE (2026 WI)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
22 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2023 RG)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2024 RG)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
24 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2023 AO)
24 = Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (2023 WI)
24 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2025 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)
25 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 AO)
26 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 US)
26 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2026 AO)
27 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2025 US)
28 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2024 WI)
29 = Madison Keys, USA (2025 AO)

*FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT WIMBLEDON - Open era*
1968 Billie Jean King, USA
1978 Martina Navratilova, USA
1994 Conchita Martinez, ESP
1998 Jana Novotna, CZE
2000 Venus Williams, USA
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
2026 Linda Noskova, CZE

*ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - WON IN FIRST SLAM FINAL*
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin
2020 Roland Garros - Iga Swiatek
2021 Roland Garros - Barbora Krejcikova
2021 U.S. Open - Emma Raducanu
2022 Wimbledon - Elena Rybakina
2023 Australian Open - Aryna Sabalenka
2026 Roland Garros - Mirra Andreeva
2026 Wimbledon - Linda Noskova
--
ALSO: Barty ('19 RG)

*2026 WTA TITLES AFTER FACING MATCH POINT*
Indian Wells - Aryna Sabalenka (1 vs. Rybakina in F)
Stuttgart - Elena Rybakina (2 vs. Fernandez in QF)
Wimbledon - Linda Noskova (1 vs. Cirstea in 3r)
[recent slam titles after saving MP]
2014 AO - Li Na (1 vs. Safarova in 3r)
2016 AO - Angelique Kerber (1 vs. Doi in 1r)
2018 AO - Caroline Wozniacki (2 vs. Fett in 2r)
2021 AO - Naomi Osaka (2 vs. Muguruza in 4r)
2021 RG - Barbora Krejcikova (1 vs. Sakkari in SF)
2024 RG - Iga Swiatek (1 vs. Osaka in 2r)
2025 AO - Madison Keys (1 vs. Swiatek SF)
2026 WI - Linda Noskova (1 vs. Cirstea 3r)
[at Wimbledon]
1935 Helen Wills Moody (1 vs. Helen Jacobs F)
2005 Venus Williams (1 vs. Davenport in Final)
2009 Serena Williams (1 vs. Dementieva in SF)
2026 Linda Noskova (1 vs. Cirstea in 3r)
[recent Wimbledon non-MP close calls]
2007 V.Williams - 1r: Kudryavtseva 2 pts from win; 3r: Morigami served for match
2015 S.Williams - 3r: down db-bk 3-0 in 3rd vs. Watson; served 5-4, 2 pts away
2016 S.Williams - 2r: down break in 3rd vs. McHale
2023 Vondrousova - QF: down 4-1, BP for 5-1 in 3rd vs. Pegula

*LONG WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S FINALS - Open era*
2:46 - 2005 (V.Williams def. Davenport)
2:28 - 1970 (Court def. BJ.King)
2:27 - 2026 (Noskova def. Muchova)
2:14 - 1993 (Graf def. Sabatini)

*2026 WTA ALL-NATION FINALS*
(USA) Austin - Stearns d. Townsend #
(UKR) Rouen - Kostyuk d. Podrez
(CZE) Wimbledon - Noskova d. Muchova
[most recent at majors]
2009 (RUS) RG - Kuznetsova d. Safina
2009 (USA) WI - S.Williams d. V.Wiliams
2015 (ITA) US - Pennetta d. Vinci
2017 (USA) AO - S.Williams d. V.Williams
2017 (USA) US - Stephens d. Keys #
2026 (CZE) WI - Noskova d. Muchova
-
#- tournament in home nation

*2026 WTA SINGLES TITLES*
3 - Mirra Andreeva = 1 GS/2 500
3 - Aryna Sabalenka = 2 1000/1 500
2 - Elena Rybakina = 1 GS/1 500
2 - Marie Bouzkova = 2 250
2 - Marta Kostyuk = 1 1000/1 250
2 - Karolina Muchova = 1 1000/1 500
2 - LINDA NOSKOVA = 1 GS/1 500
2 - Jessie Pegula = 1 1000/1 500
2 - Elina Svitolina = 1 1000/1 250

*CAREER-HIGH RANKINGS - TCH/CZE*
#1 - Karolina Pliskova *
#2 - Jana Novotna
#2 - Petra Kvitova
#2 - Barbora Krejcikova *
#3 - Martina Navratilova [1975; #1 as USA]
#3 - Hana Mandlikova
#4 - Helena Sukova
#5 - Lucie Safarova
#6 - Marketa Vondrousova *
#6 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA (new CH) *
#7 - Nicole Vaidisova
#7 - LINDA NOSKOVA (new CH) *

*WIMBLEDON GIRLS FINALS - since 2013*
2013 Belinda Bencic/SUI d. Taylor Townsend/USA
2014 Alona Ostapenko/LAT d. Kristina Schmiedlova/SVK
2015 Sofya Zhuk/RUS d. Anna Blinkova/RUS
2016 Anastasia Potapova/RUS d. Dayana Yastremska/UKR
2017 Claire Liu/USA d. Ann Li/USA
2018 Iga Swiatek/POL d. Leonie Kung/SUI
2019 Daria Snigur/UKR d. Alexa Noel/USA
2021 Ane Mintegi del Olmo/ESP d. Nastasja Schunk/GER
2022 Liv Hovde/USA d. Luca Udvardy/HUN
2023 Clervie Ngounoue/USA d. Nikola Bartunkova/CZE
2024 Renata Jamrichova/SVK d. Emerson Jones/AUS
2025 Mia Pohankova/SVK d. Julieta Pareja/USA
2026 Anna Puskhareva/RUS d. Sun Xinran/CHN

*RECENT SLAM JUNIOR CHAMPS*
[2024]
AO: Renata Jamrichova, SVK
RG: Tereza Valentova, CZE
WI: Renata Jamrichova, SVK
US: Mika Stojsavljevic, GBR
[2025]
AO: Wakana Sonobe, JPN
RG: Lilli Tagger, AUT
WI: Mia Pohankova, SVK
US: Jeline Vandromme, BEL
[2026]
AO: Ksenia Efremova, FRA
RG: Alisa Oktiabreva, RUS
WI: Anna Puskhareva, RUS

*RECENT WIMBLEDON GIRLS DOUBLES CHAMPS*
2016 Usue Arconada & Claire Liu, USA/USA
2017 Olga Danilovic & Kaja Juvan, SRB/SLO
2018 Wang Xinyu & Wang Xiyu, CHN/CHN
2019 Savannah Broadus & Abigail Forbes, USA/USA
2021 Kristina Dmitruk & Diana Shnaider, BLR/RUS
2022 Rose Marie Nijkamp & Angella Okyutoyi, NED/KEN
2023 Alena Kovackova & Laura Samsonova, CZE/CZE
2024 Tyra Caterina Grant & Iva Jovic, USA/USA
2025 Kristina Penickova & Vendula Valdmannova, USA/CZE
2026 Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova, CZE/CZE
--
NOTE: J.Kovackova completes first Career Junior Doubles Slam

*SOVIET/RUSSIAN JUNIOR SLAM WINNERS*
[USSR]
1965 Wimbledon - Olga Morozova
1971 Roland Garros - Elena Granatourova
1971 Wimbledon - Marina Kroshina
1975 Wimbledon - Natasha Chmyreva
1975 US Open - Natasha Chmyreva
1976 Wimbledon - Natasha Chmyreva
1986 Wimbledon - Natalia Zvereva
1987 Roland Garros - Natalia Zvereva
1987 Wimbledon - Natalia Zvereva
1987 US Open - Natalia Zvereva
[Russia]
1998 Roland Garros - Nadia Petrova
1999 Wimbledon - Lina Krasnoroutskaya
2002 Wimbledon - Vera Dushevina
2002 US Open - Maria Kirilenko
2006 Australian Open - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2006 US Open - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2007 Australian Open - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
2009 Australian Open - Ksenia Pervak
2010 US Open - Dasha Gavrilova
2014 Australian Open - Elizaveta Kulichkova
2014 Roland Garros - Dasha Kasatkina
2015 Wimbledon - Sofya Zhuk
2016 Wimbledon - Anastasia Potapova
2023 Australian Open - Alina Korneeva
2023 Roland Garros - Alina Korneeva
2026 Roland Garros - Alisa Oktiabreva
2026 Wimbledon - Anna Puskhareva

*WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
[singles]
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Aniek Van Koot, NED
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Diede de Groot, NED
2025 Wang Ziying, CHN
2026 Yui Kamiji, JPN

*RECENT WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS*
2024 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #4 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 AO - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2025 WI - #4 Wang Ziying/CHN def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2025 US - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN
2026 AO - #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN def. un Diede de Groot/NED
2026 RG - #4 Diede de Groot/NED def. un Ksenia Chasteau/FRA
2026 WI - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED

*WON MOST DIFFERENT WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES (#-active)*
8 - Diede de Groot, NED [completed set w/ '19 RG singles]#
8 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN [completed set w/ 26 WI singles]#
7 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (US Open singles)#
7 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (RG singles)#
7 - Esther Vergeer, NED (DNP Wimbledon singles)
[men 8/8]
8 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN [completed set w/ '22 WI singles]
8 - Alfie Hewett, GBR [completed set w/ '24 WI singles]
--
NOTE: 6/8 - Tokito Oda, JPN - needs RG/WI doubles (is in WI doubles F)

*de Groot vs. Kamiji Slam Finals*
2017 US - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 AO - #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2022 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2023 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2024 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2026 WI - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
--
de Groot leads 16-3 in Finals; tied 1-1 non-F

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
24 - Diede de Groot, NED [6-6-6-6]*
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-x-6]
12 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN [3-5-1-3]*
4 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]*
3 - Aniek Van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]*
3 - Monique Kalkman, NED [0-0-x-3]
2 - Daniela Di Toro, AUS [0-0-x-2]
2 - Sabine Ellerbrock, GER [1-1-x-0]
2 - Maaike Smit, NED [0-0-x-2]
2 - Chantal Vandierendonck, NED [0-0-x-2]

*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
32 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (12-20)
29 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (24-5)
17 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-14)
7 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-3)
2 - Li Xiaohui, CHN (1-1)
1 - Wang Ziying, CHN (1-0)
1 - Ksenia Chasteau, FRA (0-1)
1 - Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (0-1)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)
1 - Zhu Zhenzhen, CHN (0-1)

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
43 - Diede de Groot, NED (24/19)*
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
35 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (11/23)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
20 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/16)*
13 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/12)

*ALL-TIME WC SLAM TITLES (M+W)*
50 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN (28/22)
43 - Diede de Groot, NED (24/19)*
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
35 - ALFIE HEWETT, GBR (10/25)* [to play WI singles F]
35 - YUI KAMIJI, JPN (12/23)*
31 - GORDON REID, GBR (2/29)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
24 - Stephane Houdet, FRA (4/20)*
-
*-active; BOLD: won titles at WI '26

*SLAM "ROLLER" AWARD WINNERS*
2026 RG: Ksenia Chasteau, FRA (1st GS final)
2026 WI: Yui Kamiji, JPN (Career Golden Slam + won all 8 s/d)

*WIMBLEDON INVITATION DOUBLES WINNERS - SINCE 2007*
2007 Jana Novotna & Helena Sukova
2008 Jana Novotna & Kathy Rinaldi
2009 Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova
2010 Martina Navratilova & Jana Novotna
2011 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2012 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2013 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2014 Jana Novotna & Barbara Schett
2015 Magdalena Maleeva & Rennae Stubbs
2016 Martina Navratilova & Selima Sfar
2017 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2018 Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs
2019 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2020-21 DNP
2022 Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis
2023 Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis
2024 Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis
2025 Cara Black & Martina Hingis
2026 ??
[most wins/women]
7...Martina Hingis
5...Martina Navratilova
4...Kim Clijsters
4...Jana Novotna
3...Cara Black
3...Lindsay Davenport
2...Rennae Stubbs (+1 MX)
2...Helena Sukova
1...Magdalena Maleeva
1...Kathy Rinaldi
1...Barbara Schett
1...Selima Sfar
0...Marion Bartoli (+1 MX)
0...Katie O'Brien (+1 MX)
[MX Invitational]
2022 Marion Bartoli & Nenad Zimonjic
2023 Rennae Stubbs & Nenad Zimonjic
2024 Dominika Cibulkova & Mark Woodforde
2025 Katie O'Brien & Sebastien Grosjean
2026 ??





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BREAKING ๐Ÿšจ ๐Ÿšจ ๐Ÿšจ Four New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns surrounding a Qatari-gifted jet serving as the new Air Force One have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department, the news outlet reported Friday. www.cnn.com/2026/07/11/p...

[image or embed]

— Lauren Ashley Davis (@laurenmeidasa.bsky.social) July 11, 2026 at 7:11 AM

According to the Times, some subpoenas were delivered by federal agents at the journalists’ homes. The newspaper called it a “brazen act” and warned it is an attempt to intimidate reporters and undermine press freedom.

— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) July 11, 2026 at 7:15 AM


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A federal court has rejected the orange felon’s request to put his disgusting name back on the Kennedy Center. Imagine being so pathetic, jealous and weak that you keep trying to add your name on someone else’s memorial. He belongs in jail.

— Ricky Davila (@therickydavila.bsky.social) July 11, 2026 at 12:09 AM











TOP QUALIFIER: Robin Montgomery/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (two straight sets wins; extends slam TB win streak to 21)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE (def. consecutive multi-slam winners in Krejcikova/Osaka)
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #9 Linda Noskova/CZE (maiden slam title)
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - Anastasia Gasanova/RUS def. Varvara Lepchenko/USA 2-6/6-1/7-6(12-10) - Lepchenko led 5-3 in the 3rd, twice served for the match, led 5-1 in MTB and at 9-6 held four MP over a 5-point stretch. Gasanova wins 12-10.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Maya Joint/AUS def. Serena Williams/USA 6-3/6-7(6)/6-3 - 20-year old Aussie, 1-13 in her last 14 matches, defeats returning 44-year old Williams in her first singles match since 2022
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #9 Linda Noskova/CZE def. #17 Sorana Cirstea/ROU 2-6/6-3/7-6(11-9) - Noskova 4-2 lead in 3rd, Cirstea MP at 5-4 and Noskova 2 MP before deciding MTB; Noskova wins 11-9)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): SF - #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE def. #7 Coco Gauff/USA 6-2/1-6/7-6(12-10) - both hold MP, Muchova wins classic 12-10 MTB
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #11 Belinda Bencic/SUI (def. Stojsavljevic/GBR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #20 Maja Chwalinska/POL (1st Rd. - hurt ankle/foot on MP up 6-2/5-2 vs. Sawangkaew/THA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Anastasia Gasanova/RUS (2nd MD), Tyra Grant/ITA (1st MD), Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (2nd MD), Lanlada Tararudee/THA (2nd MD)
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: Southeast Asians
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GBR (1-7 1st Rd., after 0/7 through qualfiying; Kartal DNP, Raducanu w/d and started 0-7 in MD play)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Ashlyn Krueger/USA (4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Karolina Pliskova/CZE, Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSERS: Darja Semenistaja/LAT(L)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Karolina Muchova/CZE and Linda Noskova/CZE
IT "Filipina": Alex Eala/PHI (first PHI woman to slam Round of 16)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jasmine Paolini/ITA
CRASH & BURN: #2 Elena Rybakina/KAZ, #3 Iga Swiatek/POL and #6 Amanda Anisimova/USA ('22 champ and both '25 finalists lose in 3rd Round on middle Saturday)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Linda Noskova/CZE (3r- saved MP vs. Cirstea)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: J.Kovackova, Dabrowski/Stefani
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Mertens, Mladenovic, (Invitational WD)
LAWN COURT ROLLER: Yui Kamiji/JPN (completes Career Golden Slam, and career sweep of all major s/d WC titles, with 6-0/6-0 win in final over de Groot, the only other woman to have won the same set of titles)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominees: J.Kovackova, Pushkareva
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: Maja Chwalinska/POL (devastating loss in 1st Rd. after having MP at 6-2/5-2 before fall injures ankle); Karolina Muchova/CZE and Linda Noskova/CZE (first all-CZE Wimbledon F)








All for Day 13. More tomorrow.
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Friday, July 10, 2026

W.12- The Day Before the Day


Czech, please...










via GIPHY




=DAY 12 NOTES=
...there was the usual, relatively light(-ish) schedule on Friday as we charge toward the weekend, with most of the final match-ups set as of today (save for the 14u juniors).

The doubles final will pit #2 Gaby Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani against #10 Guo Hanyu/Kristina Mladenovic.

Dabrowski/Stefani have picked up five titles together over the years, switching partners before ultimately coming back together this year (and winning three titles so far, on all three surfaces). But they've never won a major together. They claimed the Eastbourne title before this Wimbledon, and will try to add what what would be the first Wimbledon crown in any discipline for both.

Dabrowski has a pair of U.S. Open WD wins (w/ Erin Routliffe) to her credit, as well as two MX wins (AO/RG). She lost in the '19 and '24 Wimbledon WD finals with Xu Yifan and Routliffe, respectively. Stefani has an AO MX win, but has never played in a major WD final. She played in last year's MX final at SW19, but came up short.



Mladenovic, a former WD #1, will be looking to end her multi-year slam title drought with what would be her seventh major doubles win, and her first at Wimbledon. The Pastry has won two AO and four RG crowns, but is 0-1 in Wimbledon finals (2014). She *has* won a MX title at SW19, though, all the way back in 2013 (one of three career MX crowns). Guo will be playing in her first career slam final. They were the Auckland champs back in January.

...the junior final will pit #1 Sun Xinran against #14 Anna Pushkareva.

Sun lost to a junior Hordette (Alisa Oktiabreva) in this year's RG girls' final, but gets another chance here vs. another young Russian in Pushkareva. Sun would be the first Chinese girl to win at Wimbledon, while Pushkareva would be the first Hordette to take the SW19 crown since Anastasia Potapova (now repping AUT, of course) in 2016.



The top-seeded Brazilian duo of Victoria Luiza Barros & Nauhany Vitoria Leme da Silva will try to become the first duo from that nation to win a junior doubles slam. They are already the first to reach a major girls' slam final.

They'll face #5-seeded Czechs Jana Kovackova & Katerina Zajickova, who'll be looking to make history, as well. A win by the Crushers will make them the first team to win RG/WI (aka the "Channel Slam") in the same season since 2013 (Czechs Krejcikova/Siniakova), and would give Kovackova the first Career Junior Doubles Slam (w/ her *fourth* straight major win, after the first two came with sister Alena).

...and the wheelchair final will feature the *19th* slam title match clash between #1 Yui Kamiji (who def. DC/#4 Wang Ziying in a MTB) and #2 Diede de Groot (def. #3 Li 4 & 2). De Groot is 16-2 in the previous eighteen meetings.

A win from Kamiji would allow her to join de Groot as the only woman to have won all eight slam s/d titles. They've both also won the year-end WC Masters s/d and Paralympic Gold in both disciplines, as well.

De Groot, who this year won her first major since her '24 hip surgery (at RG), is seeking her seventh Wimbledon title. Kamiji was RU to de Groot in the '22 Wimbledon final, and again last year in the title match vs. Wang.

It'll be the 32nd slam singls final for Kamiji (11-20) and 29th for de Groot (24-4).







*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#10 Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. #9 Linda Noskova/CZE

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#10 Guo/Mladenovic (CHN/FRA) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Ostapenko/Arevalo (LAT/ELS) def. Hunter/Polmans (AUS/AUS) 4-6/7-5/6-2

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. #2 Diede de Groot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) vs. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN)

*GIRLS' SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Sun Xinran/CHN vs. #14 Anna Pushkareva/RUS

*GIRLS' DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Barros/Leme da Silva (BRA/BRA) vs. #5 J.Kovackova/Zajickova (CZE/CZE)

*GIRLS' 14-and-UNDER SF*
Isha Manchala/USA vs. Lyubov Pronenko/RUS
Eduarda Gomes/BRA vs. Mariia Kocherzhenko/UKR










...CRACKING THE CODE... ON DAY 12:




...THE CENTER OF THE CZECH CRUSHER COLLECTIVE... ON DAY 12:




...HMMM... ON DAY 12:




...OSTAPENKO BEING OSTAPENKO... ON DAY 12:



Naturally, 95% percent of the comments on this post were of the "active... so it's been done before," "that's because serious players don't play doubles," "no one cares, only singles matter," "but she didn't win the Olympics" variety or, get this, pushing how Krejcikova has had a better career (of course she has, and what's the point?), marking maybe the first time what I suspect isn't really a *real* Krejcikova fan pumping up *her* resume (I mean, it was only to tear down *another* player, but does that still count as "progress?") when most tend to ignore the ridiculous numbers of things she's won over the years.

Although, I *do* remember the ESPNers, of all people, actually highlighting Krejcikova's all-around, Hall of Fame-worthy career resume during her match with Muchova the other day. Well, check that, I think it was Caroline Wozniacki who led the way on that... so maybe the usual lot over there don't deserve the same pat on the back. I mean, they would (probably) never unless forced into it.





























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*WON MOST DIFFERENT WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES (#-active)*
8 - Diede de Groot, NED [completed set w/ '19 RG singles]#
7 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (US Open singles)#
7 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (Wimbledon singles)#
7 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (RG singles)#
7 - Esther Vergeer, NED (DNP Wimbledon singles)
[men 8/8]
8 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN [completed set w/ '22 WI singles]
8 - Alfie Hewett, GBR [completed set w/ '24 WI singles]
--
NOTE: 6/8 - Tokito Oda, JPN - needs RG/WI doubles (is in WI doubles F)








TOP QUALIFIER: Robin Montgomery/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (two straight sets wins; extends slam TB win streak to 21)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE (def. consecutive multi-slam winners in Krejcikova/Osaka)
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - Anastasia Gasanova/RUS def. Varvara Lepchenko/USA 2-6/6-1/7-6(12-10) - Lepchenko led 5-3 in the 3rd, twice served for the match, led 5-1 in MTB and at 9-6 held four MP over a 5-point stretch. Gasanova wins 12-10.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Maya Joint/AUS def. Serena Williams/USA 6-3/6-7(6)/6-3 - 20-year old Aussie, 1-13 in her last 14 matches, defeats returning 44-year old Williams in her first singles match since 2022
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #9 Linda Noskova/CZE def. #17 Sorana Cirstea/ROU 2-6/6-3/7-6(11-9) - Noskova 4-2 lead in 3rd, Cirstea MP at 5-4 and Noskova 2 MP before deciding MTB; Noskova wins 11-9)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #11 Belinda Bencic/SUI (def. Stojsavljevic/GBR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #20 Maja Chwalinska/POL (1st Rd. - hurt ankle/foot on MP up 6-2/5-2 vs. Sawangkaew/THA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Anastasia Gasanova/RUS (2nd MD), Tyra Grant/ITA (1st MD), Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (2nd MD), Lanlada Tararudee/THA (2nd MD)
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: Southeast Asians
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GBR (1-7 1st Rd., after 0/7 through qualfiying; Kartal DNP, Raducanu w/d and started 0-7 in MD play)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Ashlyn Krueger/USA (4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Karolina Pliskova/CZE, Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSERS: Darja Semenistaja/LAT(L)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Katie Swan/GBR (2nd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Karolina Muchova/CZE and Linda Noskova/CZE
IT "Filipina": Alex Eala/PHI (first PHI woman to slam Round of 16)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jasmine Paolini/ITA
CRASH & BURN: #2 Elena Rybakina/KAZ, #3 Iga Swiatek/POL and #6 Amanda Anisimova/USA ('22 champ and both '25 finalists lose in 3rd Round on middle Saturday)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Linda Noskova/CZE (3r- saved MP vs. Cirstea)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: J.Kovackova, Dabrowski/Stefani
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Mertens, Kamiji(WC), Mladenovic, (Invitational WD)
LAWN COURT ROLLER: Nominee: Kamiji, Li/Wang, de Groot
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominees: J.Kovackova, Sun X., Pushkareva
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: Maja Chwalinska/POL (devastating loss in 1st Rd. after having MP at 6-2/5-2 before fall injures ankle); Karolina Muchova/CZE and Linda Noskova/CZE (first all-CZE Wimbledon F)








All for Day 12. More tomorrow.
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