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Wednesday, July 8, 2026

W.10- The Inevitability Always Rings Twice


Here comes Marta. Again. Already.













=DAY 10 NOTES=
...sometimes a player "graduates" right before our eyes, and this grass court season may have been the moment it happened for Linda Noskova.

The big-hitting Czech has been a dangerous player to watch for a couple of seasons, but for much of that time -- though she made her maiden slam QF *two* seasons ago in Melbourne while still a teenager (after upsetting then-#1 Swiatek... when that still *meant something*) -- her storyline was most often about her putting big-time pressure on top players, often stretching them to three sets, but usually coming up just short of the big, career path-changing victory.

But Noskova's title run in Berlin may have changed that. Before that week on the grass, she'd had a typical "nibbling at the edges" 2026 campaign. After reaching a 1000 final in Beijing last fall, Noskova reached the Indian Wells SF, Madrid QF and Rome 4th Round this spring, but the form she showed in Berlin, knocking down Alex Eala and Jessie Pegula en route to the title, seems to have changed her *mindset* more than anything.

The win pushed her (only briefly, for a single week) into the Top 10, but the belief the whole experience instilled in her has been in evidence throughout this Wimbledon.

At SW19, whether it's been when the Czech is in the lead, is being challenged, or even when she's seemingly in trouble (like when she faced a MP vs. Sorana Cirstea in the 3rd Rd.), Noskova has *played* like the favorite, not just because of her #9 seed or '26 grass record (9-1 coming into today) but more importantly because of what's been between her ears and inside her chest. To date, it's always *felt* like Noskova was in control, even when she really wasn't because she has seemed to *believe* she was, or at least was *about to be*.

We saw it again today in the #9 seed's QF match vs. #25 Elise Mertens. The veteran Belgian barely conceded Noskova an inch, sticking like glue on the scoreboard all day, but it never really felt as if Noskova was in trouble, nor did she let the closeness of the match cause her to overplay or do anything desperate. She just played her game and let the match *come to her*, which it eventually did when she applied just the right amount of pressure at just the right time.

Mertens saved three BP to hold for 2-2 in the 1st, and neither woman had managed a break of serve deep into the set. And then Noskova suddenly did, as occurred in the Round of 16 vs. Madison Keys when the Czech waited things out until she had a chance to pounce, then did so late in the opening set and in the blink of an eye she had the match lead. Keys never fully rediscovered her footing following her swift dispatching in the closing game of that set, when she'd led 40/love only to lose five straight points and drop the set entirely, and (so far) Noskova hasn't looked back.

Noskova broke Mertens' serve to shake up the series of holds, taking a 5-3 lead. She then held at love to secure a 6-3 1st set. Just like that.

To open the 2nd set, again Mertens struggled to stay even with Noskova, rallying from 15/40 down and saving three BP before finally holding on her fourth GP opportunity. The set stayed on serve without much wavering until game 8, when Noskova let a 40/love lead slip to deuce. But she quickly recovered within a blink, using a drop shot/winner combo and then a closing ace to shut down any hope for an eleventh-hour Mertens surge.

Noskova held three BP in the next game, one on which the Czech seemingly played the *perfect* point that was about to end with a stinging volley into the corner... only to see Mertens race to get a racket on the ball and her desperation lob attempt catch the baseline to help her stay alive. She held for a 5-4 lead.



But Noskova remained calm, secure in her place and with her ability to close out the match. After missing on three GP chances, and seeing Mertens twice get within two points of the taking the set (but never reaching SP), Noskova held to even the score again. Then the Czech, once again, stepped things up significantly in the close moments of yet another set, breaking Mertens in the next game and (again) serving out the set/match with a love service game after that, winning 6-3/7-5 to reach her maiden slam semifinal.



It's been more than twenty years (Sharapova 2004) since a pre-Wimbledon event title winner went on to win at SW19, and just one has done it since 1998. But two of the final four woman who claimed crowns earlier this grass season are still in the running to match the feat. Decades ago, back when the likes of Martina Navratilova (who did it while winning seven of her nine Wimbledon championships) and Jana Novotna (who did so in '98 in her lone SW19 run) were roaming the lawns, it was a routine occurrence.

Of course, both of those two women were Czech-born, as are the two who are still in position to double-up this year, Noskova and countrywoman Karolina Muchova. In fact, they *could* meet in the final, an affair that would represent a virtual celebration of all that the Czechs has done at this slam over the years.

Incredibly, there's never been an *official* all-Czech final at Wimbledon. Not in the women's, nor the men's (while the likes of Jan Kodes, Ivan Lendl and Tomas Berdych have reached the final Sunday). The closest was in 1986, when Navratilova (Czech-born, but by then a U.S. citizen) defeated Czech Hana Mandlikova.

Muchova/Noskova would be the long-overdue maiden Czech-vs.-Czech clash. We'll see if it happens.



...meanwhile, Marta Kostyuk has spent most of the grass season sitting on her inevitability. She didn't play a grass court tune-up event, then with little fanfare worked her way through this draw. So against her nature, she barely caused a stir, even while winning back-to-back three setters (vs. a Russian opponent in Blinkova, and then #23 Navarro), pulling away down the stretch in both to throw cold water on any potential drama. She then did the same after falling behind 4-2 in the 2nd set vs. a qualifier (Krueger) in the Round of 16, moving on in straights.

Throughout, Kostyuk's Wilson-supplied attire for the fortnight -- allowing for post-match, ballerina-like twirls to show off its frills -- has gotten more play than Kostyuk's good form.

On Day 10, the #12-seeded Ukrainian found her way to Centre Court, but only while *another* women's quarterfinal was also taking place next door on Court 1. The Noskova/Mertens match, a tight affair decided by a few key points here and there, began *before* Kostyuk's own against #13-seed and former finalist Jasmine Paolini, but it was the latter which managed to finish first, re-setting the ongoing stage for the biggest local story at this Wimbledon (which shows that, on occasion, those wild cards the tournament hands out *are* deserved and well used, even if it's not *usually* the case).

Though this Wimbledon served as an oasis in a season's storm for Paolini, who will look to build upon her best singles result since last fall, was consistently in Kostyuk's wake on this day. Kostyuk broke to take a 3-2 lead in the 1st, then backed it up with a love hold. Though she wasn't able to open an even wider gap on the scoreboard after holding double-BP on Paolini's serve in game 7 (the Italian held), she put away the set-clinching break two games later to take the 1st at 6-3.



Kostyuk took another early break lead at 3-1 in the 2nd, and coasted to a 6-3/6-2 win to secure her second consecutive slam semifinal.

With only three more women's matches left to play at this Wimbledon, suddenly Kostyuk's inevitability might be showing once again.



For now, Kostyuk cracks the Top 10 for the first time, assuming the #10 spot in the "live" rankings. But it could be short-lived, as Noskova (the live #11) could still knock her out with a win tomorrow.

With the QF round complete, this marks the first time in the Open era that the final four at SW19 consists of four first-time Wimbledon semifinalists.

But before the "you-know-who" lot begin to yelp about how it shows a "weakness" at the top of the WTA, we should also note that the four remaining woman include a multi-slam winner, another former slam finalist, two players who just completed a Career Semifinal Slam, and another player who has reached back-to-back semis in majors. In fact, it shows the *depth*.

So there's that.

...the junior quarterfinals are set, and top-seed and girls' #1 Sun Xinran is still on track to reach her second straight junior singles slam final, after reaching the RG final last month. She'd be the first Chinese girl to win the Wimbledon juniors.

Also in the last eight is unseeded Janae Preston, as the Bannerette seeks to become the third U.S. girl ('17 Claire Liu, '22 Liv Hovde) to win both the Roehampton and Wimbledon titles in the same year.

One big upset in the singles today involved the exit of #3 Jana Kovackova, who lost to Germany's Emily Eigelsbach. The Czech Crusher is still alive in the doubles QF, though, as Kovackova seeks the first recorded Career Junior Doubles Slam (which would also be a "Kovackova Slam" since it'd be her *fourth* straight major doubles win).







*WOMEN'S SINGLES SF*
#10 Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. #7 Coco Gauff/USA
#12 Marta Kostyuk/UKR vs. #9 Linda Noskova/CZE

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF*
#1 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. #10 Guo/Mladenovic (CHN/FRA)
(PR) Neel/Olmos (EST/MEX) vs. Jiang X./Xu Y. (CHN/CHN)
#13 Aoyama/Liang (JPN/TPE) def. #9 Perez/Schuurs (AUS/NED)
#2 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA) def. Piter/Siskova (POL/CZE)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
Hunter/Polmans (AUS/AUS) vs. #2 Ostapenko/Arevalo (LAT/ELS)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. Jinte Bos/NED
#4 Wang Ziying/CHN vs. Lizzy de Greef/NED
Ksenia Chasteau/FRA vs. #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #2 Diede de Groot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
#1 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) vs. Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR)
de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN)

*GIRLS' SINGLES QF*
#1 Sun Xinran/CHN vs. (Q) Anna Pircher/AUT
Emily Eigelsbach/GER vs. Janae Preston/USA
#7 Mariia Makarova/RUS vs. #15 Polina Skliar/UKR
Qu Yihan/CHN vs. #14 Anna Pushkareva/RUS

*GIRLS' DOUBLES QF*
#1 Barros/Leme da Silva (BRA/BRA) vs. #7 Frodin/Rajeshwaran Revathi (USA/IND)
Hazelitt/Newman (USA/USA) vs. Berezina/Cvetkovic (RUS/SRB)
#5 J.Kovackova/Zajickova (CZE/CZE) vs. Dorofeeva-Rybas/Pushkareva (RUS/RUS)
#8 Wobker/Zoldakova (GER/CZE) vs. Pircher/Yoshida (AUT/JPN)










...SO, IN FINAL FOUR STORYLINE SHORTHAND... ON DAY 10:

The Fighter (Gauff). Healthy/"Peak" (Muchova). The Graduate (Noskova). Inevitable (Kostyuk).



...AH, I SEE WHAT THEY DID THERE... ON DAY 10:




...TRY AS THEY MIGHT, IT'S NOT *REALLY* THE SAME, NOW IS IT?... ON DAY 10:




...WHY IT'S HARD TO GET VERY WORKED UP NO MATTER HOW HARD ESPN TRIES TO PUSH THE LIKES OF FRITZ, PAUL, TIAFOE and SHELTON AS LEGITIMATE TITLE CONTENDERS... ON DAY 10:



Though I'd still give Shelton a shot in Melbourne, maybe, some day.

So they should probably get on board with the likes of Fery, British but a former *NCAA player*, for however much longer this lasts. It might be as close as the U.S. gets anytime soon.




..."PROP PICKS" UPDATE... ON DAY 10:




WI26 "PROP PICK" PREDICTIONS
1. Serena Williams will win at least one match in her return at age 44
...NO. Considering Maya Joint's season, this seemed like a good bet. It wasn't. I should have predicted that Serena wouldn't play any doubles matches (since that's always been pretty likely... unfortunately for Venus).
2. DC Iga Swiatek will not reach the second week
...YES. Honestly, this seemed pretty easy. Eala did the deed
3. Only one of the Top 3 seeds (Sabalena-Rybakina-Swiatek) will reach the QF
...grudgingly, NO. I thought this was taking a chance, but NONE of them made it.
4. At least 2 Czechs will reach the QF
...YES. Muchova and Noskova.
5. Two "flagless" women will reach the QF
...NO. Surprisingly, none made it.
6. There will be at least one first-time major semifinalist
...YES. Hello, Ms.Noskova.
7. There will be three unseeded woman in the QF, at least one in the SF
...NO/NO. Unlike the men (in a rare situation), there was no women's Cinderella run.
8. The two finalists will have a combined seed of 22+ (unseeded would be 33 alone)
...still be determined, with one SF pitting #10 vs. #7 and the other #12 vs. #9. I guess I'd *have* to have Muchova/Kostyuk to get to 22.
9. At least one finalist will come from the #8-20 seed range
...YES. #12 Kostyuk vs. #9 Noskova in one SF will do.
10. At least one finalist will be a former major finalist, but have never reached a previous final at Wimbledon
...YES. Gauff vs. Muchova in the other SF will do.
11. The winner will be a first-time Wimbledon finalist
...YES. In fact, all four *semifinalists* are SW19 first-timers.
12. Dark Horses (at least 4r/QF??): Chwalinska (hey, Paolini followed up *her* RG final with another at Wimbledon), Samsonova (the AELTC would be a fine place to finally turn the corner on her season), Krejickova (why not?), Navarro (playing like a second-weeker), Montgomery (vs. Paolini in the 1st Rd., is 9-0 this grass season)
...NO-NO-YES-NO-NO. This one really hurt my numbers. Since they had to at least reach the second week, the 3rd Round exits of Samsonova and Navarro really cut deep into my win percentage. Meanwhile, Montgomery had Paolini in her crossheirs and let her escape, while Chwalinska's had at least a 1st Round win until the injury on MP.


With one pick still to be determined, that gives me seven wins and nine losses. Not *bad*... but I'll surely limit my dark horses next time.

Still, with the "champion" pick correct (as it counts here), that gives me three of the last four majors with a "YES" and six of nine since I left the old "pick ONE winner" format behind and went with the "group designation" route starting with the '24 Wimbledon. It's getting tougher to come up with something *unique* each major, though.























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*MOST WTA SF in 2026*
6 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA (3-2)
6 - Elina Svitolina (3-3)
5 - Mirra Andreeva (4-1)
5 - Aryna Sabalenka (4-1)
5 - MARTA KOSTYUK (3-1)
5 - Jessie Pegula (3-2)
4 - Elena Rybakina (3-1)
4 - COCO GAUFF (2-1)
4 - Iva Jovic (1-3)
3 - Victoria Mboko (3-0)
3 - LINDA NOSKOVA (1-1)
3 - Sorana Cirstea (1-1+L)
[nations]
26- USA (12-13)*
16- UKR (9-6)*
14- CZE (8-4)**
8 - RUS (5-3)
6 - ROU (1-5)
5 - BLR (4-1)
5 - CRO (2-3)
4 - GBR (3-1)
4 - KAZ (3-1)
4 - POL (1-3)
4 - AUS (0-4)
3 - CAN (3-0)
3 - GER (2-1)
3 - CHN (1-2)
2 - AUT (1-1)
2 - HUN (1-1)
2 - ITA (1-1)
2 - LAT (0-2)
2 - PHI (0-2)
2 - SUI (0-2)
1-0 = ESP,JPN
0-1 = ARG,COL,DEN,FRA,GRE

*RECORDS IN SLAM QF IN 2020s*
16 - Sabalenka (13-2+W)
14 - Swiatek (9-5)
11 - GAUFF (6-5)
10 - PEGULA (3-7)
9 - Svitolina (2-7)
7 - MUCHOVA (5-2)
7 - Rybakina (4-3)
7 - Jabeur (3-4)
6 - Krejcikova (2-4)

*TCH/CZE IN WIMBLEDON SF - Open era*
1981 Hana Mandlikova (RU)
1984 Hana Mandlikova
1986 Hana Mandlikova
1993 Jana Novotna (RU)
1995 Jana Novotna
1997 Jana Novotna (RU)
1998 Jana Novotna (W)
2010 Petra Kvitova
2011 Petra Kvitova (W)
2014 Petra Kvitova (W)
2014 Lucie Safarova
2019 Barbora Strycova
2021 Karolina Pliskova (RU)
2023 Marketa Vondrousova (W)
2024 Barbora Krejcikova (W)
2026 Karolina Muchova
2026 Linda Noskova

*FIRST SLAM SF AT WIMBLEDON IN 2020s*
2021 WI - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (15th slam md)
2022 WI - Ons Jabeur, TUN (21st)
2022 WI - Tatjana Maria, GER (35th)
2022 WI - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (12th)
2024 WI - Donna Vekic, CRO (43rd)
2026 WI - Linda Noskova, CZE (16th)
[2026 majors]
2026 RG - Maja Chwalinska, POL (3rd)
2026 RG - Marta Kostyuk, UKR (25th)
2026 RG - Diana Shnaider, RUS (12th)
2026 WI - Linda Noskova, CZE (16th)

*"SPIRIT OF JANA" RING OF HONOR*
Marie Bouzkova, CZE (2022)
Maja Chwalinska, POL (2026)
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2018, RG20, RG21, 2024)
Petra Kvitova, CZE (2025)
Nicole Melichar, USA (2018)
Karolina Muchova, CZE (2023, 2026)
Linda Noskova, CZE (2026)
Donna Vekic, CRO [Good Donna 2018, Bad Donna 2019]

*WIMBLEDON "SPIRIT OF JANA" ANNUAL HONOREES*
[2018]
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...Brno-born; wins WD title in first Wimbledon since ex-coach Novotna's death
Nicole Melichar, USA
...born in Brno, CZE (like Jana); wins MX title in first Wimbledon since death
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Good Donna"
[2019]
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Bad Donna"
[2020]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...to RG 3rd Rd. (Oct.) on Novotna's 52nd birthday; dedicates to Jana
[2021]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...wins maiden slam singles crown w/ Jana as inspiration; also wins WD
[2022]
Marie Bouzkova, CZE
...Czech with first slam QF
[2023]
Karolina Muchova, CZE
...hard-luck Czech falls and injures self (again)
[2024]
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...wins Wimbledon 26 years after former coach/mentor Novotna won in '98
[2025]
Petra Kvitova, CZE
...final Wimbledon for two-time champion
[2026]
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
...latest Czechs to reach Wimbledon SF




*CAREER SLAM SF - active singles*
40 - Serena Williams, USA (33-7)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
14 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (8-6)
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
7 - Madison Keys, USA (2-5)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
6 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)*
5 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-1)
5 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)*
4 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (3-1)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
4 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-4)
3 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (2-1)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Jessie Pegula, USA (1-2)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
--
*-to play SF

[SLAM SF 2020-26]
14 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (8-6)
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
6 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)*
5 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)*
4 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (3-1)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Madison Keys, USA (1-2)
3 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-1)
3 - Jessie Pegula, USA (1-2)
2 - Mirra Andreeva, RUS (1-1)
2 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (2-0)
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Marta Kostyuk, UKR (0-1)*
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2-0)
2 - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-2)
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Paula Badosa, ESP (0-1)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-1)
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Maja Chwalinska, POL (1-0)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Emma Navarro, USA (0-1)
1 - Linda Noskova, CZE (0-0)*
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (0-1)
1 - Lois Boisson, FRA (0-1)
1 - Diana Shnaider, RUS (0-1)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Donna Vekic, CRO (0-1)
1 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (0-1)
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (1-0)
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF

[2026 SLAM SF BY NATION]
3 - UKR (0-2) - Kostyuk
2 - RUS (1-1)
2 - CZE (0-0) - Muchova,Noskova
2 - USA (0-1) - Gauff
1 - BLR (1-0)
1 - KAZ (1-0)
1 - POL (1-0)

[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-26 / 26 events]
22 - USA (11-10)*
16 - BLR (9-7)
11 - POL (7-4)
11 - CZE (5-4)**
5 - RUS (2-3)
5 - UKR (0-4)*
4 - KAZ (3-1)
3 - AUS (2-1)
3 - JPN (2-1)
3 - TUN (3-0)
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - FRA (0-2)
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - ITA (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
1 (W) - CAN,CHN,GBR
1 (L) - ARG,BRA,CRO,SLO,SUI,ITA

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career WI SF]
1 - Coco Gauff
1 - Marta Kostyuk
1 - Karolina Muchova
1 - Linda Noskova

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive WI SF]
none

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
2 - Marta Kostyuk

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career WI W/L]
16-6...Coco Gauff
15-5...Marta Kostyuk
13-6...Karolina Muchova
9-3...Linda Noskova

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
85-25...Coco Gauff
58-27...Karolina Muchova
44-25...Marta Kostyuk
20-15...Linda Noskova

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - 2026 Slam W/L]
14-2...Marta Kostyuk
11-2...Coco Gauff
10-2...Karolina Muchova
7-2...Linda Noskova

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - 2026 season W/L]
34-8...Karolina Muchova
31-11...Coco Gauff
28-5...Marta Kostyuk
27-11...Linda Noskovar

[2026 WI SEMIFINALISTS - 2026 grass court W/L]
10-1...Karolina Muchova
10-1...Linda Noskova
5-0...Marta Kostyuk
5-1...Coco Gauff






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I wish just one NATO leader (or all of them) would say, "This is unacceptable. The US president has lost his mind. America come get your boy. He's broken and needs to be under a doctor's care back home." I wish someone would tell the damn truth about what's happening.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf.bsky.social) July 8, 2026 at 9:31 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): 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: Nominees: Noskova, Kostyuk
IT "Filipina": Alex Eala/PHI (first PHI 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: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): x
LAWN COURT ROLLER: x
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
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 (latest Czechs to reach Wimbledon SF)








All for Day 10. More tomorrow.
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