New Delhi: Linda Noskova defeated fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win her maidenWimbledon title at Centre Court on Saturday, July 11. Noskova recovered from a second-set meltdown, in which she squandered five match points, to produce a sensational comeback and claim her first-ever Grand Slam title. At 21 years old, she became the youngest Wimbledon champion since her idol, Czech legend Petra Kvitova, who watched her victory from the Royal Box.

Noskova also became the third player in four years to win the Wimbledon women’s title, after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024. Noskova was in complete control of the match after winning the opening set in 32 minutes.

She then led 5-2 in the second set, but Muchova fought back, saving three match points at 2-5 and another in the next game after a double fault from the faltering Noskova. Muchova saved one more at 4-5 as a previously one-sided contest sprang to life on Centre Court.

The ninth seed lost five consecutive games as her Olympic doubles partner managed to drag the match into a deciding set. But Noskova somehow managed to overcome her earlier struggles and rediscover her composure, taking a 5-2 lead in the third set.

The 29-year-old Muchova again looked to make a comeback, one game back, but when Noskova was asked to serve for the match for a second time, she made no mistake in claiming her first Grand Slam title. After bringing up another two match points, more than an hour after her first opportunity, she sealed the win with an unreturnable serve before collapsing to the court in a moment of relief as much as celebration.

After winning the Wimbledon title, emotional Noskova blew a kiss towards the sky 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. 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,” Noskova said.

Since 2020, Noskova and Elena Rybakina are the only two players to reach and win their first career Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon.