By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Linda Noskova threw down an exclamation point to punctuate a statement win.
Wimbledon winner Noskova slashed her ninth ace down the T, sealing a commanding 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Coco Gauff to secure her semifinal spot in the WTA Finals.
In her WTA finals debut, Noskova has shown a knack for the point-closing strike. Today, she surprised herself learning she is a semifinalist.
“Just the fact I’m in the semis I got to know just two minutes ago,” Noskova told Tennis Channel’s Dani Klupenger afterward. “It’s a great surprise. I’m super excited. Today was a great match.
“I felt much, much better on court than I did two days ago. So I’m very happy.”
Gauff, who beat Jessica Pegula in her opener, can still advance to the semifinals of the round-robin event depending on the results of the final Group 1 matches. Gauff will meet Marta Kostyuk and Pegula will play Noskova in the final Group 1 round-robin matches.
In a match of explosive major champions today, Noskova rocketed declarative serves and damaging forehand strikes hitting 2024 champion Gauff off the court. Noskova ravaged Gauff’s second serve winning 20 of the first 22 points played on the American’s second serve and breaking four times in the first set.
“Definitely just focusing on myself first as I always like to do,” Noskova told Tennis Channel’s Tracy Austin. “I knew it was going to be tough against Coco you have to play to the very last point.
“It was not going to be easy. I felt like I played great, maybe some unforced errors came from her on crucial points that helped me as well.”
Firing her flat strikes into the corners and showing the guts to go for the down the line drive, the 2026 Indian Wells semifinalist has dropped only 12 games in tournament wins over Marta Kostyuk and Gauff.
Eight months in age separate 22-year-old Gauff and 21-year-old Noskova, but the WTA Finals debutant was intent on dictating play from the start.
The match began with three straight breaks.
In her fifth consecutive WTA Finals appearance, Gauff ballooned a forehand several feet long then double faulted gifting the break and a 2-1 lead to Noskova.
The Czech crunched a clean running backhand down the line then thumped an ace wide confirming the break for 3-1.
Facing arguably the fastest woman on Tour, Noskova showed a quick first step of her own. The sound of squealing sneakers pierced the stadium as both women were quick to the ball. Noskova set her her feet and turned her hips and shoulders into a forehand strike, rattling out the error and her third break for 4-1.
Challenging the American’s second serve, Noskova nailed a diagonal forehand return winner that helped her gain triple set point.
When Gauff dragged a double fault into net, Noskova seized a one-set lead on her fourth break of the day. Gauff won just two of 17 second-serve points in that set.
Controlling the center of the court, Noskova was firing forehands with vigor, exhibiting easy power.
Staggering through a two double fault game, Gauff gave up her fifth break of serve to start the second set. Noskova hammered through the third game backing up the break for a 3-0 lead. Gauff’s two-handed backhand, her eye-popping court coverage and determined defense are all weapons, but Noskova really disarmed the Delray Beach-born baseliner today.
Even when Gauff pressured, Noskova issued authoritative answer. Down Love-30 in the seventh game, Noskovai slammed a couple of aces and a forehand winner blitzing back to hold for 5-2.
Serving for a semifinal spot, Noskova again rallied from Love-30 down drilling a pair of aces, including that point-ending blast, to end a 75-minute triumph.
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