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Linda Noskova had arrived at Wimbledon as one of the most dangerous young talents yet to make a grand slam breakthrough but the Czech completed that journey on Thursday, producing a clinical display to defeat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 and reach the first major final of her career.
“I don’t know how I feel,” said Noskova. “It was a great match. I stayed calm the whole time, which was the main goal. But I always realise any success or a good tournament after it’s done. Right now, I am focusing on the final.”
The 21-year-old did not waver under the pressure of the occasion, delivering a mature performance to end Kostyuk’s outstanding run and set up an all-Czech Wimbledon final for the first time against Karolina Muchova – where a first-time women’s champion will be crowned for the ninth consecutive time.
“It’s a tradition at this point,” said Noskova on the love affair between Czech female players and Wimbledon. “We are all brought up in the same way in Czechia, in our game styles, in our tennis, but we are very different. We are very creative.
“Grass allows us to use any side of tennis: if it’s serve and volley back in the old days, if it’s slices and volleys in this new era.”
Noskova spent almost the entire afternoon untouchable on serve.
She faced just one break point – the only blemish on an otherwise immaculate serving performance – at 3-1 in the second set, while capitalising on Kostyuk’s vulnerabilities whenever the finish line came into view, breaking three times, including when the Ukrainian served to stay alive in both sets.
Kostyuk arrived in inspired form after reaching the French Open semi-finals and had won 21 of her previous 22 matches, while Noskova claimed the Berlin Open title before transferring that momentum on to Wimbledon’s lawns.
There was little to separate the pair early on as both settled quickly behind serve.
Noskova opened confidently with a comfortable hold before Kostyuk responded with an ace and aggressive baseline hitting to level matters. The rallies were clean, the serving consistently strong and opportunities scarce as both players refused to offer an opening – eight games in, the two had won 29 points each.
The match turned when, serving to stay in the opening set at 4-5, Kostyuk suddenly tightened.
Noskova sensed the opportunity, forcing three set points as the Ukrainian struggled to find her rhythm. Kostyuk saved the first but produced a costly double fault to hand the Czech the opener.
From there, Noskova’s serve became untouchable, delivered with the same unhurried rhythm between every point that has become a hallmark of her game.
“I have been working on my serve for a couple of years now,” she said.
“It has been a great help for me lately. On grass or hard courts, your serve is the most powerful tool. I try to focus on myself when I have my service game. Whatever happens on the return games, happens.”
Kostyuk attempted to ignite herself and the Centre Court crowd, punctuating winning points with loud celebrations as she searched for a way back into the contest.
But Noskova remained unmoved with an early break to love in the second set. Dictating from the baseline with effortless power, she repeatedly forced Kostyuk on to the defensive, while her first serve continued to produce cheap points.
Having already won more grass-court matches than any woman on tour since the start of last season, Noskova looked completely at home on the surface.
Kostyuk finally earned her first break point of the afternoon midway through the second set and seized it brilliantly with a fierce forehand winner before holding to love, lifted by a rally – one of very few during the match.
Rather than allowing frustration to creep in, Noskova steadied herself with another assured hold, her forehand repeatedly dragging Kostyuk across the baseline before finishing points with ruthless efficiency at 5-4. Kostyuk again faltered under pressure. Two loose backhands handed Noskova two match points.
Although the Ukrainian saved the first with a stunning forehand winner, on the second, another forehand drifted beyond the baseline.
“Her serve quality was 9.5,” said Kostyuk. “Doesn’t get better than this. I know I’m a good returner. Not much I could do today.
“I broke her once, but generally I didn’t even come close to break points.”
