How Wimbledon semi-finalists have found their feet on grass

Four Women's Semi-Finalists Discover Grass Court Comfort at Wimbledon

How Wimbledon semi finalists have found - A remarkable transformation has unfolded at the All England Club this year, as all four women's semi-finalists have rediscovered their form on grass courts. This convergence of talent sets the stage for a historic moment on Saturday, when a first-time Wimbledon champion will be crowned. The journey to this point has been anything but straightforward for these players, each of whom has faced unique challenges on the hallowed turf.

Gauff's Grass Court Evolution

Coco Gauff stands alone among the remaining competitors as the only player to have previously captured a Grand Slam singles title. Despite her past success, the American openly acknowledged that her connection with grass courts has never been seamless. At just 22 years old, Gauff has already secured victories on the hard courts of the US Open in 2023 and on the clay of the French Open in 2025, yet grass remained a persistent source of uncertainty.

Her legendary breakthrough arrived at Wimbledon in 2019 when, as a mere 15-year-old, she navigated qualifying and defeated one of her childhood idols, Venus Williams, en route to the fourth round. However, that early triumph did not translate into sustained grass court success. Until this year, Gauff had gone two entire years without winning a single match on grass.

While Gauff possesses exceptional athleticism and can move swiftly across the court, her footwork when positioning herself for baseline shots has occasionally appeared less fluid. Her serve has historically been vulnerable, producing numerous double faults, and her forehand has shown a tendency to weaken during pivotal moments. Seeking solutions, Gauff brought on biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan last year—just before the US Open—following his work helping Aryna Sabalenka resolve her serving difficulties before claiming major titles.

"I have really honed in on my game and realised I don't have to play a spectacular point every time to win," Gauff explained. "I think it is just trusting myself. My groundstrokes are good enough to be with anyone on this surface."

Muchova Overcomes Injury Setbacks

Karolina Muchova, 29, is also experiencing her maiden Wimbledon semi-final appearance. The Czech player had not secured a victory at the All England Club since 2021. Over the previous six seasons, Muchova had advanced to the semi-finals at the other three Grand Slam tournaments, yet Wimbledon proved particularly unforgiving, delivering four consecutive first-round defeats.

Known for her creative shot-making and tactical variety, Muchova's style is ideally suited to a surface that celebrates her artistic approach. The primary obstacle has been maintaining fitness. A wrist injury kept her sidelined for ten months during the previous season, and at one point, a physician advised her to consider retiring from tennis due to the physical demands placed on her body.

"I'm appreciating more that I'm here, I can play, I don't have these big issues that I had in the past," Muchova shared. "I'm also happy that I now am selling my game and I can use it."

Kostyuk's Complicated Grass Court History

Marta Kostyuk emerged as one of the standout performers during the clay-court season, capturing two consecutive titles before advancing to the French Open semi-finals. The 24-year-old Ukrainian chose not to compete in any tournament prior to Wimbledon, instead returning to her homeland and enjoying a vacation in Greece. Although she expressed optimism about translating her clay-court momentum to grass, she had similarly gone two years without a grass court victory before this year's championships.

"I feel like a lot of years that I played here, I played horrendous," Kostyuk reflected. "I could not find my tennis on this surface, on any tournament. It was a really complicated relationship for me."

Even upon arriving in London nearly three weeks ago, Kostyuk harbored doubts. Losing practice matches to 44-year-old Serena Williams and Jessica Pegula did little to boost her confidence. However, the reassurance from her coach, Sandra Zaniewska, proved pivotal.

"I turned to Sandra and said: 'Can you please tell me, honestly, right now, if you think that grass suits my game?' She said: '100%,' Kostyuk recalled. "That gave me something to hold onto."

Noskova's Promising Trajectory

Linda Noskova has long been viewed as a future contender capable of challenging for Grand Slam titles. A highly touted junior player, she became the youngest competitor to break into the top 100 in 2022. Her run to the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2024 further demonstrated her potential, though consistent deep runs at major tournaments have remained elusive.

At just 21 years old, Noskova represents the next generation of talent, and her presence among the semi-finalists signals a bright future for Czech tennis.

A Historic Weekend Ahead

Former American world number one Tracy Austin offered her perspective on the field: "Coco is the only one who has won a major - but I'm not committing to saying she's the favourite. It will be interesting to see how all four manage this with so much on the line."

With each semi-finalist having overcome personal struggles and rediscovered their grass court game, Saturday promises to deliver an unforgettable conclusion to Wimbledon's women's singles competition.