Serena Williams’ Coach Predicts If Karolina Muchova Will Win A Grand Slam After Wimbledon Final Heartbreak

29-year-old Karolina Muchova suffered her second Grand Slam final defeat against Linda Noskova at the Wimbledon Championships. The Czech Republic star had hoped to finally get her hands on major silverware after three years of reaching another final, but couldn’t get the better of her fellow 21-year-old compatriot.

The last time Muchova came close to reaching a Grand Slam final was at the US Open in 2024, where she reached the semi-finals before losing to Jessica Pegula in three sets. But at this year’s Wimbledon, she faced another American, Coco Gauff, and this time around got the better of the former World No.2 to reach the championship match.

Muchova was the favorite to beat Noskova in the Wimbledon final and had defeated the World No.7 at the US Open last year. However, she struggled with Noskova’s constant forehand shots and serves. But Muchova did make a comeback from 2-5 in the second set to win 7-5 and drag the match to a decider.

That was not good enough in the end as Noskova defeated Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to claim her first career Grand Slam title. Muchova was in tears after the match as she had previously lost to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open final. The last player to win a Grand Slam at 29 was Madison Keys at the Australian Open last year.

It is very rare for a player to win their first Grand Slam in their late 20s in the women’s circuit. Only six WTA players have won their first major title after 29 in the Open Era, with Li Na and Flavia Pennetta topping the list. Serena Williams‘ assistant coach, Rennae Stubbs, wrote on Substack that Muchova has what it takes to win her first major title after losing the Wimbledon final:

And the way Karolina Muchova handled the loss – with the class she always carries, on and off the court – a speech that was funny, poignant, and heartbreaking all at once, the kind that only wins her more fans, for her tennis and her personality. (I mean, who else hits a legitimate tweener on Centre Court in a Wimbledon final?) Karolina will win one of these majors one day. I truly believe that. And she’ll be a very popular champion when she does.

Muchova has already won two titles this season and has been to four finals already. She’s ranked World No.6 in the WTA rankings, above Swiatek, who dropped to World No.8 after losing in the third round to Alexandra Eala. Swiatek is yet to reach a tournament final this season despite changing her coach.

Rennae Stubbs says Karolina Muchova was not herself at Wimbledon final

Karolina Muchova won her first title this year at the Qatar Open after defeating Victoria Mboko in straight sets. She reached another tour-level final at the Stuttgart Open, where she fell to Elena Rybakina. The 29-year-old won her second title at the Bad Homburg Open after Naomi Osaka retired due to injury.

However, Muchova couldn’t replicate the kind of form she showed throughout the grass-court season at the Wimbledon final. The Czech star was not herself against Linda Noskova as she made some uncharacteristic mistakes at the All England Club. In the aforementioned article, Stubbs revealed that there was something strange about Muchova against Noskova:

I also saw Karolina Muchova before the match. I really like Karolina as a person, and I admire her tennis so much – I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I would have loved to see her hold that trophy at the end of the day, especially with age not on her side the way it is Linda’s. But it wasn’t meant to be. Unlike Linda, Karolina was definitely not her usual relaxed self beforehand.

Muchova will be eyeing another Grand Slam final at the US Open in August. The Czech star will hope to replicate Amanda Anisimova’s run last year, when she reached the final of Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. However, she’s expected to be back on the court at the Canadian Open.

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