“A contrast in styles” can be an overused descriptor in sports, but in the case of two of the best women’s tennis players in the world, who will meet in the Wimbledon semifinals today, it absolutely rings true.
Karolína Muchová, a 29-year-old from the Czech Republic looking to make her second Grand Slam final, meets Coco Gauff, the 22-year-old American who broke through in her mid-teens and already has two majors to her name.
Their match on Centre Court is set up to be a contest between Muchová, who has always seemed a natural for grass, and Gauff, who is still figuring that surface out.
But their Wimbledon results have been similar, rather than far apart.
Muchová had not been past the fourth round in four tries before this year, while Gauff arrived in south-west London having not won a match on grass in two years.
These two players have many attributes the other would love to possess, but today they will go after the same prize: a place in their first Wimbledon final.
