Linda Noskova went to the well again on Sunday in New York, fighting through a frustrating scenario to reach her first US Open quarterfinals.
Chris OddoSeptember 6, 20262 minute read
Linda Noskova’s Grand Slam winning streak is up to 11, but her latest victory certainly didn’t come easily.
The Wimbledon champion reached the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday with a complicated 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Marta Kostyuk, overcoming the frustration of failing to convert five match points before eventually putting away one of the tour’s top players in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“Very tough match,” Noskova said after the win. “We definitely didn’t hold back, neither of us. So, a lot of opportunities I had, especially in the second set. Couldn’t really close it out, but yeah, I had to wait for it and just keep going.”
If that story sounds familiar, it should.
In the Wimbledon final against Karolina Muchova, Noskova held five championship points in the second set but couldn’t convert any of them. Muchova forced a third, but rather than allowing the disappointment to overwhelm her, Noskova regrouped and went on to win her first Grand Slam title.
On Sunday in New York, the circumstances were remarkably similar. Noskova again let five match points slip away, including two while serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. Kostyuk took advantage, winning the set and forcing a decider.
Once again, Noskova found a way to reset.
“I had to restart. I had to refocus, kind of put it behind me, which was not easy at all,” she said. “But it’s always the most important thing to kind of get yourself back mentally after such opportunities, either in Wimby or here.”
Kostyuk saved three more match points with Noskova serving for it at 5-4 in the third. When the Czech finally got over the line she fell to her knees and let her emotions show. She told the crowd that all she could feel was relief.
Noskova was widely praised for that mental resilience at Wimbledon. Less than two months later, she has provided another striking example of it.
This time there was no elaborate reset. Noskova left the court, splashed some water on her face and tried to start over.
“I didn’t want to remind myself that something like that has already happened,” she said. “For me, it was just, you know, splash some water on my face, just kind of talk myself into thinking all over again.”
It worked.
Eleven Grand Slam matches, 11 victories — and twice now, Noskova has shown that even five squandered chances aren’t necessarily enough to knock her off course.
She will face Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
“It’s going to be some fast tennis, I expect,” she said.
