Czech Linda Noskova captured her first Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, defeating compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Centre Court.
The 21-year-old, seeded ninth, became the youngest Wimbledon women’s singles champion since Petra Kvitova won the title in 2011. It was the first all-Czech women’s Grand Slam final of the Open Era, and the victory made Noskova the third Czech woman in the last four years to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Noskova appeared to be cruising toward the biggest title of her career after taking the opening set and building a 6-2, 5-2 lead in the second. Standing one game from the championship, she held five championship points, but Muchova refused to go away. The 29-year-old saved all five and reeled off five consecutive games to steal the second set 7-5 and force a decider.
After letting the second set slip away, Noskova quickly regrouped. She regained the momentum early in the deciding set and closed out the two-hour, 28-minute victory to claim the biggest title of her career.
AFP–JIJI
Noskova backed up her aggressive play with impressive serving statistics. She hit 10 aces, won 74 percent of her first-serve points and 54 percent of her second-serve points. She also struck 44 winners, won 67 percent of her net points and finished with 109 total points. Muchova hit 35 winners and converted four of her 13 break-point opportunities, but Noskova controlled many of the biggest points with her first serve and attacking tennis.
Both finalists had already shown remarkable resilience during the fortnight. Muchova saved a match point in her semifinal victory over Coco Gauff, while Noskova survived a match point against Sorana Cirstea in the third round. It marked the first Grand Slam final since the 2018 Australian Open in which both finalists had saved match points en route to the championship match.
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Muchova credited Noskova’s aggressive play.
“I think she was playing really brave and she was going for it.”
Noskova said she regained her focus after letting the second set slip away.
“I just kind of started to focus on myself all over again, which was the key point.”