By Clare Lovell
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) – Linda Noskova became the second Czech woman into this year’s Wimbledon semi-finals, beating Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3 7-5 in an under-the-radar match-up on Wednesday and said she drew inspiration from the success of compatriots from the past.
The ninth seed, who has been rising stealthily up the rankings this year, pummelled the experienced Mertens, 30, with powerful returns, pinpoint groundstrokes and the occasional surprising drop shot in baking lunchtime heat on Court One.
While the spotlight has been on top seed Aryna Sabalenka’s untimely exit, Serena Williams’ one-match return, Naomi Osaka’s spectacular outfits and Coco Gauff’s late-night triumph, Noskova and compatriot Karolina Muchova have reached the semi-finals efficiently and without fuss.
Noskova said she looked back on the success of former players. Barbora Krejcikova took the title most recently, in 2024, with Marketa Vondrousova winning in 2023. Petra Kvitova triumphed in 2011 and 2014 and Jana Novotna in 1998.
Before that Czech-born American Martina Navratilova won nine singles titles between 1978 and 1990.
CZECH TENNIS PEDIGREE
“For me it has always been the fact that us as such a small country, we can definitely do big things in the world if we look up to the people that did it,” she said.
“The Czech tennis female players have always been incredible. If you look at 10 years back, 20, 30, there’s always just been someone.”
Mertens, six times a Grand Slam doubles champion and seeded 25th in the singles here, had to work hard for her service games against Noskova, saving nine break points.
The Belgian, who knocked out second seed and former champion Elena Rybakina in the third round, said Noskova had all the weapons.
“Hard hitter. You cannot give her two, three balls into her strokes. Yeah, I was definitely expecting a tough match. She’s a good opponent.”
NOSKOVA BROKE MERTENS’ RESISTANCE
Mertens said she tried everything to counter her young opponent.
“Especially running to every ball, trying to take my opportunities. But she was serving really well. She was really hitting the spots on every kind of direction,” Mertens said.
The 21-year-old Noskova broke Mertens’ stubborn resistance in the eighth game of the first set and 11th of the second and served out the win with a big serve that the Belgian could only send wide, to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
She became the youngest Czech women’s Wimbledon semi-finalist since Kvitova.
“I would love to follow her in her footsteps. If the outcome’s going to be the same, I would love nothing more.”
Noskova faces Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who beat Jasmine Paolini of Italy, for a place in Saturday’s final.
(Reporting by Clare Lovell, Editing by Pritha Sarkar; Editing by Alison Williams)
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