Karolina Muchova v Linda Noskova: Wimbledon 2026 women’s singles final - live

“I think this is a fantastic example of the joy doubles can bring,” continues Patten, referencing the ATP’s plans to reduce doubles draws and cut prize money. “I believe we should be growing opportunities in tennis for kids, whether they’re doubles players, singles players, from the UK, Finland, Croatia, El Salvador … we should be growing the sport, not taking opportunities away.” He then reveals his fiancee isn’t in the stands, because she’s a doctor and has been on call all week. “I hit a yellow tennis ball and she saves lives. I’m so proud of her for what she does, she works way harder than me.” He shouldn’t be doing himself down too much, though. The Wimbledon title in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and now Wimbledon again in 2026. What a team Patten and Heliovaara are.

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Updated at 10.21 EDT

Heliovaara is in tears; Patten just can’t stop smiling. And now it’s time to collect the trophy. Gone are the days when the doubles champions would have to trudge up into the Royal Box, as the All England Club chair, Debbie Jevans, presents the trophy to the duo on court.

“It’s unbelievable, doing it twice,” says Heliovaara. “I want to thank Henry for being the best partner in the world.” Patten quips: “I owe Harri my career. When I started with Harri, he took a chance on me … and it turned out to be the best decision he ever made.”

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Preamble

Tennis whites. Strawberries and cream. The Queue. Roger Federer. Czech women’s singles champions. Some things are so synonymous with Wimbledon that it should come as no real shock that Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova have made it this far, even though both are appearing in their first Wimbledon final, as they seek to join the long line of Czech-born champions in Navratilova, Novotna, Kvitova, Vondrousova and Krejcikova. Perhaps the only surprise, given how dominant their country is on grass, is that it’s taken this long to see an all-Czech final here.

These two Czech mates share more than the same nationality. They’re friends too, teaming up for the doubles at the 2024 Olympics and practising together on Centre Court before their semi-finals on Thursday, when Muchova came from match point down in that extraordinary final-set tie-break against Coco Gauff and Noskova nervelessly defeated the in-form Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. For both those were their 11th victories in 12 matches on grass this summer, with Muchova taking the Bad Homburg title and Noskova winning in Berlin last month; they really do have momentum to burn in this Wimbledon heatwave.

But there are differences between them as well, in seniority and style. This is Muchova’s second grand slam final, having lost to Iga Swiatek at the 2023 French Open, before a serious wrist injury stalled her progress. At 29, she knows she may never get a better opportunity, while for Noskova, who’s eight years younger, seeded one place higher at No 9 and had never previously been beyond a major quarter-final, this could be the start of something special. And while Noskova’s game has variety and she isn’t afraid to come to the net (in true Czech style), Muchova’s mix of power and touch, of spin and slice and speed, is so masterful she’s often been compared to Federer.

A Czech player who plays like Federer winning the title? Well, it couldn’t get any more Wimbledon than that.

Play begins: at 4pm BST (so for the second successive year it’s a later start). And remember you can get in touch in the usual way. It would be great to hear from you.

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