Like so much in women’s tennis, it all goes back to Martina Navratilova. She was the first great female champion of the modern era from the Czech Republic.
Navratilova spawned Hana Mandlíková, who led to Helena Suková and Jana Novotná and Petra Kvitová and Karolína Plíšková and Barbora Krejčíková and Markéta Vondroušová and Kateřina Siniaková.
Now come Linda Nosková and Karolína Muchová, who face each other in an all-Czech 2026 Wimbledon final.
Yes, a country of just 11 million people has produced both of the women’s finalists for this year — and nearly 20 percent of the top 50 players in the world.
The funny thing about Nosková and Muchová, though, is that a large part of their success might come from using that history and pedigree as a lightly held touchstone, rather than a sacred text.
They both said they grew up largely unaware of what came before them. Here’s how they are building on a Czech tennis legacy.
