Wimbledon runner-up stops interview and apologises to Annabel Croft | Tennis | Sport

Karolina Muchova had to pause her interview with the BBC’s on-court Wimbledon interviewer, Annabel Croft, after losing the final, as she struggled to get words out. Muchova was beaten 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 by fellow Czech Linda Noskova as she lost a Grand Slam championship match for the second time in her career. And the 10th seed was emotional as she gave a speech to the crowd, bursting into tears before she began speaking.

“It’s really tough to find any words but I’ll start with Linda, my ex-friend,” she said to start her speech after composing herself, bringing huge laughs inside Centre Court. “I’m kidding obviously, kind of. You’re so young and this was your first Grand Slam final and the way you handled it and how you played, it was really unbelievable. You’re a very kind person and human being so congratulations to you and your team, you deserve it.”

Muchova added: “I’d like to thank everyone who is making this special tournament possible. The attention always goes to us players but there are ballboys, ballgirls, the ladies who are taking care of us in the locker rooms. Thank you everyone at this special event, thank you very much for making it so smooth.

“I’d like to thank everyone of you guys for the last two weeks, you’ve been coming to my matches, supporting everyone. This is an unbelievable tournament, a special one, one of the best tournaments in the world and I’m really glad to be standing here even though I’m pretty disappointed now.

“But when I look to my corner…” At this point, as she looked up to her team, the Czech world No.11 had to pause the interview to gather herself as she broke into tears once more.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Muchova, 29, continued. “It’s emotional. When I look to my corner, I have all my friends and family who cancelled all of their plans to come here today. I appreciate it a lot.

“And my team, who have been putting up with me these past weeks, pushing me, keeping me positive. Thank you guys very much. I’ll be fighting more. I want the trophy and I hope I’ll get a chance to get to the final again and I’ll come back. Thank you very much.”

Newly-crowned champion Noskova, 21, also broke into tears during her speech as she paid tribute to her late mother who died in 2024. She said: “There’s also one more person I would like to thank, which is my mum. I would definitely would not be standing here without her so thank you.

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“Guys, I don’t cry normally so this is not okay for me. I have been enjoying these two weeks so much, all the sad tears, the happy tears, the sweat and blood going into this.

“It was all worth it, so I will definitely never forget these two weeks and one more thing, I want to thank all the fans. You guys made this final like nothing I have ever experienced before so I can not wait to come back next year.”

“I don’t know how to hold it [the trophy], that’s the first thing. It feels incredible, today and all these matches have been so tough, physically and mentally. Today, especially, it’s never easy to get the last point. Karol, you really made me work for it.

“I will not forgive you this one, like you said we are friends. I am so glad that I could play my first Grand Slam final with you. I think we made history today.

“I believe all our Czech fans at home are proud of us today so no matter the result today I think it was a good day for both of us. I want to congratulate your team, you especially have been such a fighter and you guys, a good two weeks for you and a great season as well so congratulations.

“I want to thank my team, I want to thank my Dad for coming here, for my family members flying here, I know you don’t like flying so I appreciate it.