Linda Nokova saved three match points to upset number 5 seed Jessica Pegula 6-3 1-6 7-6 (8-6) to reach the first WTA 1000 final of her career. Noskova has become the youngest Czech player in three decades to advance to advance to a WTA 1000 final, surpassing Petra Kvitova.
The first set went on serve in the first five games. Noskova converted her third break at deuce in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and closed out the first set on her second set point. Anisimova was not able to create any break points in the opening set, but she broke twice in the second and fourth games and served out on her second set point to win the second set 6-1 forcing the match to the decider.
Pegula went up a break twice in the first and third games, but Noskova pulled back on serve both times to draw level to 2-2. Pegula claimed a crucial break in the 11th game to take a 6-5 earning the chance to serve for the match. The US player earned three match points, but Noskova saved them. Pegula went up a 5-4 lead in the tie-break, but Noskova won four of the next five points to clinch the tie-break 8-6.
Noskova set up a final against Amanda Anisimova, who beat Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the other semifinal. Anisimova has drawn level to 1-1 in her head-to-head matches against Noskova.
Tomorrow’s final will be the third head-to-head clash between Noskova and Anisimova.
Noskova beat Anisimova 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in Indian Wells 2023. Anisimova avenged this defeat by beating Noskova 6-2 5-7 6-4 at Wimbledon this year.
Noskova is looking to join Svetlana Kuznetsova (2009) and Garbine Muguruza (2015) as first time WTA 1000 champions in Beijing.
“It was a roller-coaster match. That’s why I cherish this one. It definitely could have gone either way. It’s not easy to play someone like her. I feel like we were both kind of exhausted”, said Noskova.
