Karolina Muchova advanced to the Wimbledon women's singles final after a dramatic semifinal win over Coco Gauff on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
The match drew sharp criticism from tennis legend Billie Jean King over an umpire's late-game decision.
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During the decisive third-set tiebreak, the chair umpire called a time violation on Muchova for exceeding the shot clock before serving.
Despite the penalty, the Czech player saved match points alongside Gauff before converting her own opportunity to secure victory.
King's Reaction
Speaking live on the BBC, King expressed strong disapproval of the official's intervention at such a high-stakes moment.
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"Are you kidding me! Just stay out of it when you are in that situation.
Just stay out of it as an umpire. Sometimes they choke too," she said.
Muchova, whose career has been frequently hindered by persistent injuries, has reached her first Wimbledon final.
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She is scheduled to play for the championship title on Saturday against either Marta Kostyuk or Linda Noskova.
