Linda Noskova becomes Czech No. 1 after strong Beijing performance

The 20-year-old tennis player reached the final at the China Open, climbing to No. 17 in the WTA Rankings

In the championship match, Noskova fell to American Amanda Anisimova 0–6, 6–2, 2–6, struggling more than usual with her serve. Still, her path to the final was impressive.

In the third round she defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng, who retired injured in the deciding set, and in the semifinals she outlasted world No. 7 Jessica Pegula in a dramatic battle, clinching the match in a final-set tiebreak. Along the way Noskova also posted confident wins over Anastasia Potapova in the Round of 16 and Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the quarterfinals.

This run lifted her ten places in the rankings and allowed her to overtake fellow Czech Karolina Muchova, who exited in the Round of 16 after losing to Anisimova.

The rivalry among Czech top players now enters a new chapter, with the country once again proving itself as one of the strongest nations at the top of women’s tennis.

Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons, photo by Hameltion