Coco Gauff to face Karolina Muchova

Coco Gauff was due to face Karolina Muchova in the first women’s semifinal at Wimbledon on Thursday, with Centre Court set to stage both last-four matches at the All England Club. The second semifinal pairs Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova after both won in straight sets on July 8. Wimbledon’s order of play for July 9 listed Gauff-Muchova first on Centre Court, followed by Kostyuk-Noskova. The women’s singles final is scheduled for Saturday, July 11. ### Which semifinal was scheduled first on Thursday? Wimbledon’s official order of play for Thursday, July 9, put Coco Gauff against Karolina Muchova on Centre Court before Marta Kostyuk against Linda Noskova. Olympics.com, citing the day’s schedule, also listed Gauff as leading the women’s semifinal lineup at SW19. (olympics.com) The Athletic’s live coverage said Gauff, the No. 7 seed from the United States, was to open the action against No. 10 seed Karolina Muchova. USA Today also described Gauff as the highest seed left in the women’s draw entering the day. ### How did the other semifinal get set? Marta Kostyuk advanced on Wednesday, July 8, by beating Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first Wimbledon semifinal. (olympics.com) Wimbledon’s website said the 24-year-old Ukrainian was making her Centre Court debut and closed out the former finalist in straight sets. Linda Noskova joined her in the last four with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Elise Mertens on the same day. (nytimes.com) Olympics.com said Noskova, 21, came through a tighter second set and afterward said of the upcoming match against Kostyuk: “It’s going to be a battle.” ### Why was a new finalist guaranteed? The New York Post reported that Thursday’s results, regardless of winner, would produce a first-time Wimbledon women’s finalist from each side of the draw. (wimbledon.com) The remaining four players — Gauff, Muchova, Kostyuk and Noskova — had all reached the semifinals without previously making a Wimbledon singles final. (olympics.com) Olympics.com said Gauff was the only one of the four semifinalists to have already won a Grand Slam singles title, even though she was still seeking her first Wimbledon final. That left Thursday’s lineup with one major champion and three players trying to reach a first Grand Slam final on grass. ### What was at stake for Gauff and Muchova? (nypost.com) Coco Gauff entered Thursday trying to reach her first Wimbledon final. Independent coverage of the order of play said the tournament was certain to crown a new women’s champion this year. Karolina Muchova was also bidding for a place in her first Wimbledon final, with the matchup opening the day on the main show court. (olympics.com) CBS Sports and The Athletic both framed the contest as the first semifinal to decide one half of Saturday’s championship match. ### When is the final and where does the winner go next? (independent.co.uk) Saturday, July 11, is the scheduled date for the Wimbledon women’s singles final at the All England Club. The winner of Gauff against Muchova was set to meet the winner of Kostyuk against Noskova in that championship match. (olympics.com) (cbssports.com)