Linda Nosková cries tears of joy, dedicates her Wimbledon win to her mother, who died of cancer

Linda Nosk fought back tears after fulfilling her childhood dream on Saturday to dedicate her first Wimbledon title to her mother, who died after a long battle with cancer ahead of the 2024 championships.

21-year-old Czech she defeated compatriot Karolína Muchová 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in a thrilling final on Center Court, she became the sixth Czech woman to lift the Venus Rosewater bowl. After collapsing on the grass in joy, Nosk tried to hold back her emotions during the trophy presentation as she remembered the person who played the biggest role in her journey.

“There’s one more person I’d like to thank, and that’s my mom. I definitely wouldn’t be standing here without her, so thank you,” said Nosková shortly after accepting the trophy.

Highlights from the 2026 Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final

The newly minted champion later admitted that the emotions of the past fortnight had finally caught up with her.

“I don’t normally cry, it’s not okay for me. I really enjoyed these two weeks. All the sad tears, all the happy tears. All the sweat and blood that went into it, it was all worth it. I’ll definitely never forget these two weeks.”

Nosková’s mother Ivana died shortly before Wimbledon in 2024, a devastating loss that has remained the driving force behind the young Czech’s rise. Throughout the tournament, her support team and family carried that memory with them as Noskova played the best tennis of her career.

Linda Nosková thanks her mother, who died after a long battle with cancer, before Wimbledon in 2024.

Today she is the Wimbledon champion.

“I wouldn’t be standing here without her.

Her mother must be smiling at her.

pic.twitter.com/e6LVA9dGDL— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 11, 2026

NOSKOVA OVERCOMES THE LATE VOBBL

For most of the final, Nosková looked destined for a comfortable victory. The ninth seed dominated the opening set, making it 6-2 in just over half an hour with a flurry of powerful strikes and accurate serves. She then moved into the title game in the second set, opening up a 5-2 lead and winning five championship points.

However, Muchová, who is participating in the second Grand Slam final of her career, refused to give up. The experienced Czech saved every championship point and staged a stunning turnaround to take the second set 7-5 to force Nosková to a deciding set.

Rather than letting the momentum slip away completely, Nosková regrouped impressively. She broke early in the third set and never relinquished control, rediscovering the composure that had seen her through a remarkable fortnight in London.

When Muchová’s final backhand sailed long, Nosková fell to the grass before hugging her compatriot at the net. The pair, close friends and former doubles partners at the Paris Olympics, played in the first Czech Grand Slam final and another significant moment for their country’s rich tennis tradition.

Noskova’s triumph capped an extraordinary run that included saving a match point in the third round to become the youngest Wimbledon champion since Petra Kvitova in 2011. It was both the third title of her career and confirmation that one of the game’s brightest talents has arrived on tennis’ biggest stage.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

12 Jul 2026 0:10 AM IST