Who Is the Young Czech Tennis Player Making Noise at the China Open?
Linda Nosková pulled off a massive feat earlier today in upsetting World Number Seven, American Jessica Pegula, in the China Open’s second semi-final. The match was a hard-fought two-hour and 28-minute contest that left Pegula, who is well known for her craftiness and wit that has more than often gotten her out of sticky situations, without a final answer to her Czech opponent. Nosková herself is currently ranked at Number 27 globally, despite only being 20 years old and making her pro debut in 2019 at 15 years old. Now, her win over the nine-time title champion leads her into the biggest final of her career, but looking back at her career history shows that this performance is no fluke.
Pegula actually defeated Nosková in the June 2025 Bad Homburg Open in the Semifinals, a grass title, so this win comes as a sweet revenge and evidence that she watches, lies in wait, and learns from her losses, so she’ll always balance the head-to-head sheet. Even in that very tournament, Nosková had a phenomenal run, defeating respected, well-known names to reach Pegula: Ajla Tomljanovic, Mirra Andreeva, and Donna Vekic. Before this, the young Czech went the distance earlier in the year and had a wonderful showing, reaching the finals of the Prague Open in her backyard. She fell to countrywoman, Marie Bouzkova, in yet another tense three-set contest, making it clear that even in loss, she fights it down to the last.
In 2024, Nosková had a strong year, which led her to her current title. She lifted the 2024 Monterrey Open trophy in Mexico after defeating Lulu Sun of New Zealand, another young breakout star for that year. Again, that tournament saw her posting magnanimous defeats against some heavyweights, American Emma Navarro and 2020 Bronze Olympic Medalist, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. The young Czech player started the year with a bang at the Australian Open, upsetting the number-one seed in the third round, Iga Swiatek. This was Swiatek’s and Noskova’s second meeting.
Nosková has come a long way to reach her success now, fighting through ITF Pro Circuit matches, but she has known triumph from early on. In 2021, she won the Roland Garros Girls’ Championship, defeating Erika Andreeva. Now, back in the present, after all her tireless toiling, she’ll face Amanda Anisimova, the US Open and Wimbledon finalist for this year, in yet another final for the American. The two have played each other twice before, once earlier this year at Wimbledon, where Anisimova prevailed in 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. The other was the very first time, at Indian Wells in 2023, and Noskova was victorious in two sets, 7-6(6), 6-3.
This matchup holds much for both players, other than tipping the scales of their head-to-head. It could mean a seamless finish to the China Open for them both, of course, but it could also give Nosková her second-ever career title. Anisimova is down two Grand Slam finals for the year, but could definitely use a WTA 1000 to soften the pain in her reality, especially after defeating last year’s champion in the semis, fellow American Coco Gauff. There’s no doubt there’s much at stake for both Nosková and Anisimova, but the certain truth is that there will be a new champion to raise the China Open trophy, and an exhilarating contest to decide it.
