All-Czech Wimbledon final goes to a younger player - championship trophy in the hands of Linda Noskova

The All-Czech final at the All-England Tennis Club - Wimbledon's Central Court - went to Linda Noskova. After a great fight that lasted two and a half hours, she defeated her compatriot Karolina Muchova - 6:2, 5:7, 6:3.

And it didn't look like it would be, as the 21-year-old Noskova had three match points in the eighth game of the second set.

In total, Karolina, who is eight years older, saved five match points, tied five games and reached the deciding set.

In it, Noskova regained her game, got an early break and the biggest title.

This is the fifth time that the trophy of the world's largest women's tournament of this millennium has ended up in the Czech Republic, twice for Petra Kvitova, once each for Marketa Vondrošova, Barbora Krejčikova and Noskova.

Noskova is also a student of Kvitova, while Mukhova had the unpleasant fate of eliminating Krejcikova (winner of 2024) after three hours in this edition of Wimbledon, and then almost eliminated another champion, American Coco Gauff, in a three-hour semifinal marathon with a match point saved.

In that very match, the ninth seed, Muhova, suffered an abdominal injury and played the last three games and 22 points of the super tie-break in painful spasms.

The 29-year-old Czech gritted her teeth today, but she had no chance against the spirited 12th seed Noskova, who had a better draw.

"It's really hard to find words. But I'll start with Linda, my ex-friend. I'm obviously joking... You're so young. This was your first Grand Slam final. The way you handled yourself and how you played was really incredible. On top of all that, you're a special, kind and wonderful person. Congratulations to you and your team. You deserve it," said Muhova, who will be seventh from Monday.

Noskova came to Wimbledon ranked 12th on the WTA list, and she announced her immense talent with a victory at the junior Roland Garros. Next comes the Top 10, specifically sixth place, and a check for $4,8 million, twice as much as her friend with whom she was fourth in the Czech doubles at the Paris Olympics.

"No one could have prepared me for the fact that my lips would dry up when I wanted to speak... I enjoyed these two weeks so much, through the tears of sadness and tears of joy, all the sweat and blood I put into this," an emotional Noskova said on the field after sending a kiss to the sky in honor of her mother, who died two years ago.

"It was all worth it, so I will definitely never forget these two weeks," Noskova said.