Linda Noskova Topples Naomi Osaka at Wuhan Open

Wuhan, China – Linda Noskova, the 20-year-old Czech tennis player, continues her strong performance at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open. She defeated former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the second round on Wednesday, securing her 10th Top 20 win of the year in only her first week as a Top 20 player, ranked No. 17.

The match lasted 1 hour and 28 minutes, ending with a score of 7-6(2), 6-3 in favor of Noskova. Despite recently competing in the China Open, where she reached the finals, Noskova demonstrated her resilience in Wuhan’s sweltering conditions.

Noskova’s journey to this victory included a grueling semifinals match against Jessica Pegula, where she came back from three match points down. Although she lost to Amanda Anisimova in the final, her recent success—including this win against Osaka—highlights her rapid ascent in women’s tennis.

Noskova credited her consistent serving as a key factor in defeating Osaka, noting that her serve had a pivotal role in the match, with only one break of serve occurring. ‘I try to be as humble as possible, because every tournament is different,’ she stated after her victory. ‘I want to bring that confidence on court.’

Her confidence is reflected statistically, as Noskova has improved her performance in tiebreaks. She has achieved a 14-4 record in 2025, improving from 12-8 in 2024. Next, she faces another tough competitor, No. 8 seed Elena Rybakina, who has won both their previous encounters.