Linda Noskova, 19, won her first WTA tour championship with a 7-6(6), 6-4 win against Lulu Sun, 23, in the Monterrey Open final on Saturday, providing her a huge confidence boost heading into the US Open. Ranked 35th in the world, the Czech teenager overcame American second seed Emma Navarro in the semi-finals, avenging her recent first-round loss to Sun in Cincinnati.
Noskova had a great start, breaking Sun’s serve in the first game. However, Sun, the New Zealander, promptly broke back to draw the match, setting up a tight tiebreak. Noskova maintained great composure, saving two set points before winning the first set in just over an hour, demonstrating her resilience and drive.
In the second set, Noskova took advantage of Sun’s growing unforced errors, again breaking her serve to keep a key lead. She held on to this advantage to win her first WTA title in a one-hour and 58-minute match in the northern Mexican city.
The win is a crucial milestone in Noskova’s career, as she prepares for her US Open first-round match against Yulia Putintseva, ranked 31st, on Tuesday. The success in Monterrey sets a good precedent for her future endeavours.
