Linda Noskova Wins First Grand Slam Title After Overcoming Second-Set Collapse
The 21-year-old Czech defeated fellow countrywoman Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to claim the Wimbledon women's singles crown, becoming the third Czech champion in four years.
Linda Noskova rallied from a five-match-point deficit and a lost second set to defeat Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech Wimbledon final on Saturday. The 21-year-old secured her first Grand Slam title after a brief bathroom break during which she focused on the championship trophy.
"I’m not going to take the small one. I’m taking the big one," Noskova said after seeing the two trophies, adding that she intended to give her all in the deciding set.
Noskova sealed the victory with a service winner on her sixth match point in the third set and was presented the Venus Rosewater Dish by Princess Kate of Wales.
"It’s never easy to get the last point," Noskova said in her victory speech, praising Muchova for making the match challenging.
The win makes Noskova the third Czech woman to win Wimbledon since 2021, following Markéta Vondroušová and Barbora Krejčíková. She will move up to a career-high world No. 7 in the next rankings release.
Muchova, playing her second Grand Slam final, congratulated Noskova, noting the young champion’s composure under pressure.
"You’re so young and this was your first final of a Grand Slam and the way you handled it was really unbelievable. You deserve it," Muchova said.
Both players had previously partnered in doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing fourth. Former Wimbledon champions Petra Kvitová and Martina Navratilova attended the match, as did other Czech tennis legends.
Noskova, who also won the Berlin Open on grass earlier in the season, dedicated her triumph to her late mother, acknowledging her influence on her career.