Linda Noskova is going to be a very dangerous player at Wimbledon. Czech women have ruled the grass-court major for the last two years, and 20-year-old Noskova should have the confidence to make it three in a row. She certainly learned a valuable lesson against Jessica Pegula on Friday.
Pegula is not the most skilled player on the WTA tour, though she doesn't lack in that department, but her will to win is enough to overcome many players. She doesn't quit. She might find herself down a set and down in the following set, but the match isn't over in Pegula's mind.
This proved to be the case in the semifinals of the Bad Homburg Open on Friday. Noskova took the first set in a tie-break 7-6(2) and got an early break of the American in the second set. She appeared well on her way to maybe the most impactful victory of her career.
Jessica Pegula shows no quit in defeating Linda Noskova at the Bad Homburg Open
It wasn't to be. Pegula got the break back and added another and stormed back to win the second set 7-5. The third set lacked any real drama. Noskova was clearly shocked by what she had witnessed; a lead in her grasp vanished and vanished quickly. Pegula took the third set 6-1 to move on the Saturday's final. She will play Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek has not always found a way to master grass courts, but she has been extremely impressive at Bad Homburg this week. After a disappointing 2025 campaign so far, she is ascending just in time for Wimbledon.
Pegula and Swiatek have never played on a grass court before, but neither player gives up easily. A three-set final should be expected.
As for Noskova, her body language implied she began to feel the match was lost midway through the third set. She might learn from Pegula not to give up. The Czech certainly has the powerful serve and skill set to be one of the best players on tour, and she probably learned quite a bit in her loss to Pegula.