Karolína Plíšková must immediately prove that she can play on grass. In the second round of Wimbledon, defending champion Iga Świątek awaits her directly on Center Court. Marie Bouzková is not losing her strength unnecessarily: she leads 6:3, 4:1 against the American qualifier Tyra Grant and is heading for certain advancement.
If she succeeds, she will advance to the third round for the first time since 2019. However, her opponent Grant has been coming into her own in recent weeks in the women's doubles, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2024 French Open, suggesting she can also surprise in the singles. Bouzková has to count on the fact that her opponent will not just be a passive opponent.
Jiří Lehečka has a break lead of 5:3 in the first set against the French Ugo Humbert, but the opponent returns to the game. Leheček's hard serve and court movement are enough for him to keep the initiative so far, but Humbert uses his strong forehand and accurate short balls. Lehecka must therefore prepare for a more physically demanding phase of the match, where she will have to prove her mentality.
The Frenchman has experience on grass from previous years, which makes him a dangerous opponent. Linda Nosková is doing well against the Romanian Ana Bogdanová, where she leads 6:4, 3:0. Nosková, who significantly improved her serve and groundstroke power in 2024, uses her aggressive style of play.
Bogdanová, although known for her defense, struggles with her nose forehand, which averages 110 km/h. If Nosková maintains her current pace, she can become the surprise of the tournament. Her trip to the third round would be her first advance since the 2022 French Open.
Jakub Menšík crushes Brit Tim van Rijth 6:1, 6:2 and is on his way to another Grand Slam victory. Menšík, who took his tennis to a new level in 2024, uses his strong serve and aggressive style of play. Van Rijth, despite being an experienced player, had no answer against Menšík's game.
If Menšík succeeds in the next round as well, he can become the first Czech man since Berdych in 2017 to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon. All four are thus trying to keep the Czech flag above the Wimbledon grass. Pliskova faces her biggest test, however: Świątek is virtually unbeatable on grass, having lost just one match on the surface in the past 12 months.
Her combination of strength, movement and accuracy make her one of the toughest opponents in the world. Plíšková, who struggled with form in 2024, must show that she can compete with these standards as well. "It's a huge challenge, but I'm here to play my tennis," Pliskova said before the match.
" The grass of Wimbledon is still a specific surface for Czech tennis players, where they have traditionally been unsuccessful. The last Czech to win a match on this surface was Tomáš Berdych in 2017. Since then, no other Czech player has made it further than the second round.
However, the current generation has a chance to change this statistic. Success on grass would not only move the individual higher in the rankings, but also show that Czech tennis can compete on a surface that historically has not been its strong point. If at least one of the Czech players succeeds in advancing to the third round, it will be the first time since 2021 that four tennis players have succeeded at the same time.
Such a result would mean not only strengthening the position of Czech tennis on the international scene, but also proof that the current generation has enough quality and determination to achieve great performances. What to expect next: If Plíšková can handle Šwiateková, she will reach the third round, where she could face another tough opponent. Bouzková, Lehečka, Nosková and Menšík have a chance to move on and maintain the Czech presence in the tournament.
The second round of Wimbledon can thus decide the further fate of Czech tennis on grass. If at least one of them succeeds in advancing to the third round, it will be the first such case since 2021, when four Czech tennis players succeeded in this at the same time. Read at iDNES.cz Sport
Why this matters
Five Czechs in one day at Wimbledon means a chance for further Grand Slam successes. However, Pliskova must prove that she can compete with the best on grass, while the rest of the team tries to keep their hopes of another Grand Slam victory alive. Every next match is a step closer to the Czech tennis players becoming a threat to the world's best. The success of one of them could take Czech tennis to a new level and show that grass is not a lost surface for our players. Historically poor performance on grass could be an impetus for the current generation to focus more on preparing for this surface in the future.
Frequently asked
Who is currently the favorite for the match Plíšková vs. Šwiatek?
Iga Świątek is the clear favorite. She has lost only one match on grass in the last year and is defending her title from last year's Wimbledon.
What form does Marie Bouzková have before the match against Tyra Grant?
Bouzková leads 6:3, 4:1 and is heading for certain progress to the third round. If she succeeds, it will be her first promotion since 2019. However, Grant has been making progress in recent weeks in the doubles, where she reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 French Open.
How does Jiří Lehečka stand against Ugo Humbert?
Lehčka has a 5-3 lead in the first set, but Humbert is trying to get back into the game. The match is still open, with Lehečka having to prove his mentality in a more demanding phase.
Who is the next Czech player who could advance to the third round?
Jakub Menšík crushes his opponent 6:1, 6:2 and is heading for another Grand Slam victory. If successful, he will advance to the third round and could become the first Czech man since Berdych in 2017 to reach the fourth round.
What are Linda Nosková's chances of advancing to the third round?
Nosková leads 6:4, 3:0 against Ana Bogdanova and is headed for the promotion. If she succeeds, she will reach the third round for the first time since 2022. Her forehand averages 110 km/h, making her a potential surprise of the tournament.
What was the last Czech participation in the fourth round of Wimbledon?
The last Czech man to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon was Tomáš Berdych in 2017. Since then, no Czech tennis player has managed to get that far.
