By Shrivathsa Sridhar
LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) – Linda Noskova survived missing five match points to outlast compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-3 to win a maiden Grand Slam title as she extended the Czech Republic’s remarkable Wimbledon success story.
Noskova’s triumph on the historic lawns of southwest London made her the third Czech woman to capture the Wimbledon title in four years and continued a run of fresh faces at the All England Club with a first-time champion for the ninth straight edition.
In joining the roll of honour, Noskova added her name to a distinguished Czech tradition at Wimbledon that includes twice champion Petra Kvitova and the late Jana Novotna, whose 1998 triumph remains one of the tournament’s enduring memories.
At the pinnacle of that legacy is Martina Navratilova, who twice lifted the gilded Venus Rosewater Dish as a Czech in 1978 and 1979 before becoming a U.S. citizen to increase her haul to nine singles crowns at the grasscourt Grand Slam.
“I don’t know how to hold this, but that’s the first thing,” Noskova said as she cradled her silverware.
“It feels incredible. And all these matches have been so physically or mentally tough. Today, especially, it’s never easy to get to last point. Karo, you really made me work for it. So I’ll not forgive for you, but yeah we’re friends.
“I’m so glad I could play my first Grand Slam final with you. I think we made a history today. I believe that all our Czech fans at home are proud of us, so no matter the result today, I think it was a good day for us.”
NOSKOVA DRAWS FIRST BLOOD
On a scorching afternoon, ninth seed Noskova turned up the heat in the Centre Court showdown by taking advantage of nervy and wayward hitting by Muchova to break in the fourth game of the opening set with a crisp backhand winner.
The 21-year-old kept her foot on the gas with the fearless ball-striking that has carried her through the fortnight, as she broke again to claim the set and leave 2023 French Open runner-up Muchova with a mountain to climb.
Muchova bailed herself out of early trouble in the next set to hold for 1-1 and then brought up two breakpoints in the third game by raising her intensity, but Noskova staved them off with some solid defending to remain on track.
After trading her power for some deft play a little later, Noskova resumed normal service to secure an important break in the sixth game to give herself an opportunity to earn a famous win.
MATCH POINTS GO BEGGING
Noskova knocked on the door three times on Muchova’s serve and then had a fourth match point on her own delivery, but she did not take it and eventually allowed her opponent to break back to prolong the contest.
She then let another match point go begging and quickly found herself level at 5-5, before 10th seed Muchova raised her game again and made it one set apiece as a thoroughly-entertained showcourt crowd roared both players on.
That setback left Noskova hiding her head under her towel ahead of the decider, but the momentum shift proved short-lived as she went ahead early and earned the win with an unreturnable serve on her sixth match point and collapsed in relief and joy.
Muchova was left to digest another defeat in a Grand Slam final after her Roland Garros disappointment.
“It’s really tough to find any words, but this is how it starts … Linda, my ex-friend,” joked Muchova through her tears.
“Even though I’m pretty disappointed. When I look to my corner…,” she said fighting back more tears.
“I have all my friends and family, who cancelled all their plans and came here for me. I appreciate it. I’ll be fighting, I want that trophy and I hope I’ll get a chance to get to the final again.”
NOSKOVA THANKS LATE MOTHER
An equally emotional Noskova blew a kiss skywards in memory of her mother, who died on the eve of the 2024 championships.
“I want to thank … my dad for coming here for, my family for coming here. I know you don’t like flying, so I appreciate it,” Noskova said.
She then reduced champions such as Navratilova and Kvitova, who were watching on from the Royal Box, to tears as she made her final dedication.
“There’s one more person that would like to thank, my mom. I would definitely not be standing here without her, so … thank you very much. I never cry. It’s not okay for me.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar and Martyn Herman; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
