Muchova vows to keep chasing maiden major

Karolina Muchova said that she will need a few days to overcome her second Grand Slam final defeat after going down to fellow Czech Linda Noskova in the Wimbledon title clash but the 29-year-old vowed ​to keep fighting for her maiden major title.

Muchova saved five match points as she fought back ‌from 5-2 down in the second set to stretch the match into a decider but she could not avoid a 6-2 5-7 6-3 defeat.

It was the second time she suffered heartbreak on one of tennis' biggest stages after losing to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 ​French Open final.

"It'll definitely take me few days (to overcome the loss). But again, I was in the ​final. It's still a great achievement. It's still something I'd take before the tournament," Muchova told ⁠reporters.

"I think my game is good. I'm improving. So I feel good on the courts. Yeah, it's a ​dream of mine, it's a goal of mine to lift that Grand Slam trophy. This is a setback, but as ​well a motivation."

Muchova said she was determined to fight for her survival as she stood a point away from defeat, not once, but five times during the dramatic second set.

"This tournament matters to me. I'm like, 'okay, I don't want to lose 6-2 6-2. I'm going to ​do everything to break her serve and keep mine'," Muchova added.

"I was still believing that I can turn it ​around. So that was in my head."

Muchova arrived in the final having saved a match point in her semi-final duel against Coco ‌Gauff, ⁠which went to three sets and ended in a gruelling match tiebreak that she won 12-10.

"It was pretty tough match. I definitely felt it physically. I was a little more tired after that match with Coco," she said.

"I didn't want to think of it. I was like, 'okay, I'm going to give it my all'. I think maybe that, definitely. The ​nerves, as well. I really ​wanted to win today.

"Maybe ⁠it tied my hands a little bit today from the start."

Describing Noskova as a "calm fighter" in the big moments, Muchova said her opponent proved too good on the day.

"She'll go ​after every point, she'll fight for every point, so she's really competitive. It's definitely ​tough to play ⁠her on any surface," Muchova said.

"I think I started really slow today. On the other hand, Linda started really strong, with really good serving games. She played fast. It took a lot of power and strength out of me to get ⁠back in ​that second set. I gave it my all.

"The people were cheering. ​I felt the support. I felt the momentum in the second set, that I can turn it around. It was definitely nice that it happened.

"Unfortunately, ​at the start of the third, it slipped through my fingers."