Linda Noskova experienced a significant boost before the U.S. Open when she claimed her maiden WTA tour title by defeating Lulu Sun 7-6(6) 6-4 in the Monterrey Open final.
The Czech player, ranked 35th in the world, avenged her previous loss to Sun in the first round of the Cincinnati tournament two weeks ago. This victory sets her up for a first-round clash with Yulia Putintseva, who is currently ranked 31st, at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
Noskova started strongly by breaking Sun’s first service game, but Sun fought back to level the score, resulting in a tiebreak. Despite facing two set points, the 19-year-old Noskova managed to win the first set after over an hour of play. In the second set, Noskova capitalized on Sun’s unforced errors to break her serve once again, giving her a crucial advantage that ultimately led to her triumph in just under two hours in Monterrey.
Reflecting on her victory, Noskova expressed her initial doubts about her mood coming into the tournament. However, she acknowledged that her experience in Monterrey had been transformative for both her career and personal satisfaction. She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and circumstances she encountered and expressed hope for a potential return to the tournament in the future.
Despite the loss, Sun, a 23-year-old player who gained recognition in the tennis community following her impressive performance in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, is set to enter the top 50 rankings for the first time. This achievement comes just before her upcoming debut at the U.S. Open on Monday, where she will face off against Lucia Bronzetti. “I want to express my gratitude to my team for their support throughout this week. Despite the defeat, it has been a fantastic week for us,” Sun expressed.
