Czech teenager Linda Noskova battled to the first WTA singles title of her career at the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday.
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No.6 seed Noskova defeated New Zealand’s Lulu Sun 7-6(6), 6-4 in the evening final at the WTA 500 event. After two previous runner-up showings on tour, the third time was the charm for 19-year-old Noskova.
“I’ve been waiting for a title or for a trophy for some time now, so it just feels amazing to win such a big tournament here this week,” Noskova said, after her victory.
World No.35 Noskova needed 1 hour and 49 minutes to fend off 57th-ranked Sun. Noskova saved two set points in the first-set tiebreak on her way to taking the crown.
“We played some great tennis,” said Noskova. “Her forehand was really killing, so I tried to stay off of it as much as possible. But it was tough at times, especially when I was 4-6 [down] in the tiebreak. I’m glad I managed to change that into my positive.”
Players on the rise: Both Noskova and Sun were seeking their first WTA title in the Saturday night showdown. Noskova was looking to reverse the results from her two prior finals, which she lost to Aryna Sabalenka at 2023 Adelaide and Nao Hibino at 2023 Prague.
By contrast, Sun had never advanced beyond a quarterfinal at tour-level until this week. However, the New Zealander did post a massive quarterfinal showing last month, reaching the Wimbledon elite eight as a qualifier.
Noskova also made her first Grand Slam quarterfinal this year, at the Australian Open, where she beat World No.1 Iga Swiatek en route. Noskova has been surging up the rankings since she won the 2022 Junior Roland Garros title.
Noskova and Sun faced off for the first time in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open two weeks ago, where Sun prevailed 6-4, 7-6(4). But this time around in Monterrey, Noskova flipped that scoreline and reigned supreme.
Match moments: Very little separated the finalists on Saturday as they inexorably moved into a first-set tiebreak. Sun had won all six of her previous tiebreaks on tour this season, and it looked like she would maintain that perfect record when she held double set point at 6-4.
But Noskova erased that pair of set points with a brilliant backhand down-the-line winner and a strong serve respectively. Another backhand winner from Noskova followed, giving the teenager her first set point.
There, Noskova forced an error with a big backhand return, winning her fourth straight…