5 standout matches from Wimbledon 2026 – Noskova joy, Djokovic epic

DPAMon, Jul 13, 2026·4 min read

Jannik Sinner’s four-set win over Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles final provided a fitting finale to a fabulous fortnight at Wimbledon.

Here, the Press Association picks out five memorable matches.

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Women’s final – Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

First-time grand slam finalist Noskova squandered five championship points in a dramatic second-set collapse before recovering to win a wild final.

Another former Czech champion, the late Jana Novotna, came to mind when Noskova blew a 5-2 lead in the second set to send the contest to a decider.

Novotna’s tears on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after she squandered an apparently decisive advantage against Steffi Graf in the 1993 final remains one of Wimbledon’s most famous moments.

Novotna had to wait until 1998 for her cathartic winning moment, but 21-year-old Noskova took a bathroom break, walked past the trophies on her way back and vowed: “I’m taking the big one!”

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Men’s third round – Arthur Fery beat Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-5)

British wild card Fery was the story of the Championships with his shock run to the semi-finals, and this was the match where the ‘Fery-tale’ really gathered pace.

The 23-year-old from Wimbledon, ranked 114 in the world, trailed 4-1 in both the fourth and fifth sets while suffering three nosebleeds on a baking hot Court 18.

Fery, already the last Briton standing in what was an otherwise dismal tournament for the host nation, levelled the match in a tie-break and then, as Bergs – ranked 77 places higher – lost his cool, the new darling of SW19 held his nerve in the 10-point decider.

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Victory meant Fery became only the fifth British man this century to reach the second week at the All England Club.

Men’s quarter-final – Novak Djokovic beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-4)

This was yet another age-defying epic from the 39-year-old Djokovic, but it was also exactly what he did not need.

A five-hour 15-minute marathon was the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history, finishing just eight minutes before the 11pm curfew.

There was a familiar injury scare, with the Serbian needed treatment on a calf problem at the end of the first set, and a furious row with tournament referee Denise Parnell over the closing of the roof before the third.

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The 24-time grand slam champion got over the line against third seed Auger-Aliassime, but the well of reserves was almost empty as he bowed out to Jannik Sinner in the semi-final.

Women’s semi-final – Karolina Muchova beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10)

A match that can be boiled down to one tie-break, a pulsating 18 minutes at the end of which both players had match points.

At 8-8, Muchova received a time violation and then went long, gifting Gauff the first match point, but the American somehow dumped what appeared to be a simple drop-shot winner into the net.

Muchova looked set to convert her first match point, but dramatically slipped as she shaped for a volley and Gauff’s cross-court forehand flew past her.

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But the Czech ninth seed made no mistake with her next chance, moving Gauff around the court before the 22-year-old’s tired forehand found the net.

Women’s first round – Maya Joint beat Serena Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3

The return of Williams on a wild card, at the age of 44 and nearly four years after “evolving away” from the sport, was the must-see event of the first week.

The American superstar entered Centre Court to a standing ovation and, after going an early break up in the deciding set against Australian Joint – 24 years her junior – it appeared she might leave it as a winner for the first time since the 2019 semi-finals.

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But Williams faded down the final straight as Joint impressively coped with both her powerful opponent and the occasion.

It later transpired Williams had suffered a knee injury late in the first set which ruled her out of a doubles reunion with sister Venus.