The women's final at the Wimbledon Championships is set for Saturday and features an enthralling clash between Czech duo Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova.
The oddsmakers can barely split the pair so the trophy match is likely to be closely fought.
Noskova has seen off opponents such as Sorana Cirstea, last year's Australian Open winner Madison Keys, grass-court specialist Elise Mertens and Marta Kostyuk, while Muchova has beaten multiple Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejcikova, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff in her last three singles outings.
Muchova and Noskova have met only once in a competitive match. Muchova fought back from losing the opening set to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 at the US Open on a New York City hard court last year.
Let's take a look at the odds and the best bets ahead of Saturday's grass-court showdown between Muchova and Noskova.
Karolina Muchova vs. Linda Noskova betting picks and predictions
Karolina Muchova to win (-120)
The market-makers reckon Noskova, 21, is capable of taking the game to Muchova, 29. But while the younger player has been turning heads with some assured displays on the nippy lawns, it is likely to be a totally different dynamic when she meets Muchova on Centre Court in the title match.
Muchova loves to attack when the opportunity arises and the older woman should get plenty of chances to do that against Noskova, who may have to emerge from her comfort zone and go on the front foot herself.
That could lead to Noskova making more errors of her own in the final and Muchova, who will be contesting her second major final, is playing well enough to profit from such a situation.
Muchova, who had never been past the quarter-final stage of Wimbledon prior to this summer, has served a long apprenticeship without ever being crowned on the biggest stage but that could all change on Saturday.
And Muchova, who made former world number one and clay queen Iga Swiatek pull out the stops in the 2023 French Open final, would fully deserve her victory in London should it come her way.
Three-set match (+110)
With Muchova fancied to prevail, it is still difficult to decide whether that might be in two sets or three.
Two is a genuine possibility, maybe winning one set with a degree of comfort and the other maybe via a tiebreak. But the oddsmakers' prices suggest that talented ninth seed Noskova, who is revelling in her new love for grass courts, is playing well enough to win at least a set if not two.
Therefore, even though a two-set victory for either player cannot be ruled out - it may not be long before Noskova has the upper hand on Muchova - punters could use the prices as a guide and back the final to go to a decider.
Linda Noskova to serve most double faults (-350)
In their only previous meeting, on a New York hardcourt last year, Noskova served a whopping 15 double faults compared to Muchova's two.
Considering grass may now be Noskova's favourite playing surface following her heroics at Wimbledon, the totals on Saturday could be much less extreme.
But with Noskova likely to have to go on the front foot more rather than just sit back and wait for her opponent to make mistakes, as was the case in her semi-final clash with Marta Kostyuk, the younger finalist may endure further serving woes.
Muchova is playing well enough to put pressure on her compatriot in Noskova's first major singles final. Thus, it would be surprising if the service action of the more seasoned finalist faltered more than that of her opponent.
Karolina Muchova vs. Linda Noskova odds
Karolina Muchova | -120 |
Linda Noskova | +100 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
