Noskova revels in dramatic win over compatriot
London: Linda Noskova joked two weeks ago that she didn’t know how to celebrate wins at Wimbledon. This time there was no need to produce anything.
After Carolina Muchova’s comeback failed to clear the net to claim Noskova’s first grand slam title, she fell on her back, put her hands over her face and got soaked in a moment everyone expected to happen more than an hour ago.
While dominating the Czech women’s grand slam final for the first time, she began dropping five championship points, found herself in a deciding set and feared she might blow it in a second-set crunch.
The pain of this shocking outburst gave way to relief, joy and overflowing tears as Noskova managed to beat her friend 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in a two-and-a-half-hour whirlwind of emotions.
The 21-year-old became the third Czech champion in the last four years at the All England club, after Barbora Krejcikova (2024) and Marketa Vondrousova (2023). The tournament, whose honorary list includes Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova, proudly continues the Czech tradition.
“It feels incredible and all these matches were so tough, so physically and mentally demanding, especially today,” Noskova said.
“Getting the final point is never easy. Carolina, you really made me train for this. We are friends and I am so happy 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 and whatever the result today, it was a good day for both of us.”
The drama began when Noskova served for the title while still in the set and leading 5-3. He kept his cool until when he needed it most.
Noskova, who gained three championship points on Muchova’s service in the previous match, rose to 30-0, two points away from her first Wimbledon and Grand Slam cup.
Suddenly, with the finish line in sight, Noskova wobbled and dominated that stage. He started to repel the shots he had previously made with ease. Another championship point came and went with a double fault.
Noskova’s top-notch serve kept Muchova at bay for a time; this included three consecutive aces at more than 180 km/h on the return points.
But his tense nerves could not calm down. On Muchova’s seventh opportunity, Noskova hit a routine forehand. The game had started, but Muchova had to hold serve first.
Noskova was once again on the verge of victory but on her fifth championship point, Muchova curled a forehand into the corner to deny the suffering countrywoman once again.
Not only did Muchova equalize the second set at five-all, but Noskova’s unraveling was complete in the next game when she ballooned a forehand for the first time after a short comeback.
After covering her ears to block out the noise of the crowd during the previous field change, Noskova buried her head in the towel this time. Neither tactic worked. Minutes later Muchova somehow tied the contest.
There was a realistic scenario in which Noskova might not recover.
Instead, the new set saw the rising star survive at least three more break points in the opening game, with a half-breaker desperately needed.
Losing one of these might have been too much for Noskova to handle, but she fearlessly hit forehand winners in the first two, then struck well into the third when Muchova failed to get the ball in the last. The young Czech player held serve and went on a five-game streak against him.
Noskova did even better in a match later, defeating Muchova 2-0 with another powerful forehand. It was the shot that failed her a set ago, but crucially it came back and did more damage to Muchova than her.
Just then the countdown began. Everyone wanted to see how Noskova would manage to serve the title for the second time, assuming the opportunity arose.
There was no need to worry. Noskova hit her 10th ace to earn a sixth championship point and needed just one more serve to cement her place in Wimbledon history.
It’s a remarkable development for a player who was, in his own words, “lost” when he stepped onto the grass field for the first time in Birmingham three years ago. But the Czech star has always been a quick learner.
Noskova’s victory on grass at the Berlin Open last month was only her second career title at the time.
She now has three and will move up to No. 7 in her personal best rankings behind Muchova, who made her second grand slam decider after losing the 2023 Roland-Garros title match to Iga Swiatek.
“It’s really hard to find any words,” an emotional Muchova said.
“But I’ll start with my old friend Linda. I’m just kidding, obviously. You’re so young and this was your first grand slam final. The way you handled it and the way you played was really incredible… I hope I get the chance to get to the final again.”
That almost didn’t happen for Noskova, who fell behind match point against Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round last week.
But her confidence and form grew as the tournament went on, and Marta Kostyuk, the fiery Ukrainian she beat in the semi-finals, admitted there was little she could do against Noskova, whose serve she described as “crazy”.
Apart from the tension-filled period at the end of the second set, the situation was almost the same against Muchova.
Fittingly, Kvitova was at the Royal Lodge to watch Noskova’s big breakthrough.
One of Noskova’s earliest tennis-related memories was watching Kvitova win the first of her two Wimbledon titles in 2011. Kvitova is a mother of three these days and played at the All England Club for the last time last year, but she can be pleased that Czech tennis is in safe hands.
Marc McGowan traveled to London with the support of Tennis Australia.
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