Linda Noskova shakes off the nerves to emerge champ | Tennis News
In the summer of 2024, Linda Noskova arrived at Wimbledon as a 19-year-old preparing for only her second appearance at the Championships. On the eve of the tournament, her mother died after a long battle with cancer. Two years later, the same tournament delivered the crowning moment of her young career. Having clinched her maiden Grand Slam title, Noskova raced to her box and embraced her father, Drahos Nosek. A few minutes later, standing on Centre Court, she blew kisses skyward.The 21-year-old raced to a 5-2 lead in the second set and held three championship points in the next game, only to watch those — and two more — slip away as her 29-year-old Czech rival Karolina Muchova reeled off five straight games, opening up her shoulders and weaving her magic to level the match.Refusing to be denied, Noskova regrouped in the decider and opened up a 3-0 lead before sealing a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory on her sixth championship point and lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish.She took home £3,600,000 in prize money, while her senior compatriot, playing her second Grand Slam final, earned £1,800,000. “Feels incredible. All these matches I have played here have been so tough. Never easy to win the last point,” the champion said, before turning to Muchova. “Karol, you made me work. We are friends. I am so glad I could play for my first Grand Slam title with you. We have made history.”Noskova is the youngest Wimbledon champion since fellow Czech Petra Kvitova, who won the title in 2011 at the age of 21 years and 116 days.The first all-Czech women’s singles final at Wimbledon — and in Grand Slam history — brought together two players who had each saved a match point on their way to the title clash.
