Wimbledon: Linda Noskova wins first Grand Slam title with dominant victory over fellow Czech Karolina Muchova | Tennis News

Linda Noskova sealed her first Grand Slam title as she became the Czech’s third Wimbledon women’s champion in four years with a win over compatriot Karolina Muchova on Saturday – but after overcoming huge odds.

Noskova followed Czech champions Marketa Vondroussova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024 in lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish on Center Court with a 6-2 5-7 6-3 victory over Muchova – after rallying from a second-set deficit.

At the age of 21, Noskova became the youngest Wimbledon champion since fellow Czech Petra Kvitova in 2011, winning her sixth Championship match.

“It feels unbelievable. All these matches were very difficult physically and mentally, today especially. It’s not easy to get the last point,” said Noskova after collecting the trophy.

“Karo, you really made me work for you! I’m so happy that I was able to play my first Grand Slam with you. We made history today.

“All our Czech fans at home will be proud of us, so whatever the result, it was a great day for both of us.”

The way Noskova approached to throw it away….

The ninth-seeded Noskova looked set for an easy win as she led 6-2 ⁠5-2 but had to endure a surprising fightback from Muchova before she could claim her first Grand Slam title.

It was another former Czech champion, the late Jana Novotna, who came to mind when Noskova scored her second set goal and five match points to send the tournament to a decider.

Novotna’s tears on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder after blowing a seemingly decisive advantage against Steffi Graf in the 1993 final remains one of Wimbledon’s most famous moments.

Novotna had to wait until 1998 for her cathartic victory moment but somehow Noskova banished the demons from her head as she regained control 5-2 ahead in the third set.

Muchova, 29, pulled one game back as shadows descended on the court but when Noskova was called for a second serve of the match, she made no mistake to claim her first Grand Slam title.

After producing two more match points, more than an hour after his first, he missed an unreturnable serve before collapsing onto the court in relief.

Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, was there, along with the greatest Czechoslovak-born player of all time, Martina Navratilova – who won a record nine titles at the All England Club.

‘Wait, my old friend!’

With tears in his eyes, Muchova said: “It is really difficult to find words.

“Wait, my old friend! I’m kidding, of course! You’re so young and it’s your first Grand Slam final and the way you handled and played was unbelievable.

“You are a kind person and a human being, so congratulations to you and your team.

“I am very happy to stand here even though I am disappointed now.

“When I look in my corner, I have all my friends and family who canceled their plans and came here to me. I thank them all.

“I will be fighting, fighting hard and I want that trophy and I hope I will get the chance to reach the final again and I will come back.”

Tale of the Tape: Noskova vs Muchova

It marks the second consecutive Grand Slam won by a player aged 21 or younger after Mirra Andreeva captured the French Open at 19 last month. It is the first time it has happened at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Justine Henin and Serena Williams, respectively, took those titles in 2003.

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