7:6(4), 6:4 with Mona Barthel (193rd WTA), 6:3, 6:4 with Rebecca Masarova (111th WTA) and 4:6, 6:3, 6:2 with Wiktoria Tomova (49th WTA) – these are the results that led Magda Linette (48th WTA) to the semi-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Prague. The semi-finals, in which the Polish player played with the highest seeded player in the tournament, Linda Noskova (27th WTA).
It was only Linette's second match in her career with the nearly 20-year-old Czech. In May last year, the Pole defeated Noskova in straight sets in a tournament in Rome, winning the match 7:6(4), 6:1. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy in the semi-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Prague.
Polish final in Prague. Linette throws out tournament “number one”
The match in the Czech capital started in the worst possible way for Linette, with a lost serve. However, the Pole made up for the loss in the fourth game, drawing 2:2. The sixth game was crucial for the fate of the set, in which Linette once again took away her opponent's serve. In this game, our player had as many as six break points. Ultimately, Linette won the first set 6:3.
However, Noskova won the second set by the same score. Linette started the set badly again, losing her serve in the second game. However, the Pole recovered from 0:2 and quickly tied it 2:2. The even fight lasted until the end of the set, and the eighth game proved crucial. Then, at the third break point, Noskova broke Linette, and a moment later she finished the set, winning it 6:3.
In the decisive set, Linette drew conclusions and did not lose her serve early on. However, she had to work harder to win points, also on her own serve. The eighth game proved crucial, where Linette led 40:0 and had three break points for 5:3. At such an important moment, the Czech made a mistake after the return and the break became a fact.
Linette had three match points at 5:3, 40:0, but Noskova was able to defend them, thanks to a great return. The 19-year-old Czech defended three more match points, but also missed two break points. In this game, the players played 17 points, and Noskova managed to make up for the break loss, so it was 5:4. A few minutes later, it was a 5:5 tie, although Noskova needed four attempts to keep her serve.
From the ninth game on there were no break points on either side, so the semi-final was decided in a tie-break. Linette started it with a mini-break advantage, and then gradually increased her advantage, up to 4:1. Then Linette got a second mini-break, and at 6:2 she had four more match points. This time Magda was already effective and won 6:3, 3:6, 7:6 (2).
This is a historic moment for Polish tennis. On Saturday in Prague, the Polish final will take place, because Magdalena Fręch (57th WTA) advanced to it after the retirement of the Czech Laura Samson (634th WTA) with the score 3:6, 6:0, 4:2 for the Pole. Linette has played Fręch only once in history. In 2022, in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Saint-Malo, Fręch came out on top, winning 7:5, 6:7 (2), 6:2.