Linda Nosková: A Small-Town Girl in the Big Wimbledon Final

Who Is Linda and What’s Happening Today?

Linda Nosková is a tennis player from a small country called the Czech Republic. Today, she is playing in the most important match (called the final) of a famous tennis tournament called Wimbledon. She is playing against another girl from her own country, Karolína Muchová.

Important: Linda’s mom, Ivana, died in summer 2024 after being very sick with cancer (a bad illness that makes the body weak). Linda will surely be thinking of her mom during this big game.

Linda’s Mom Ivana Talks About Their Story

In early 2024, before she got too sick, Ivana spoke to a newspaper called Denik.cz about Linda’s tennis life. Here is what she said, in simple words:

• Ivana said: "I have a hard time finding words, it’s amazing, it’s like we’re living a beautiful dream! When Linda and I started going to the tennis courts at age seven, we never thought she would ever make it this far. We were expecting a normal, relaxed life with tennis."
• Ivana and her husband (Linda’s dad) supported Linda’s tennis when they were older (a more mature age), mainly during her school years, by giving their time and taking trips to tournaments. She said Linda comes from normal circumstances.
• Ivana also added: "Linda and I have been in the tennis world for a while now, such moments have already come, and on this journey Linda and her team have shown incredible results considering the conditions she comes from. We started relatively late, moreover from a village with two hundred inhabitants against girls from big cities and better-off families."

Why Mom Couldn’t Travel and Her Love for Wimbledon

Ivana shared that she could not go to a big tennis event in Australia (called the Australian Open) because she was sick and the trip was too long and tiring.

• She said: "I’m sick, the long journey itself is exhausting. We watch everything at home, keep our fingers crossed and stay in touch. Over the years, we’ve traveled together a lot."
• Wimbledon was always Ivana’s favorite tournament.
• In 2023, she was there for the first time, but said: "I couldn’t do it for health reasons. I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere, the specific game on grass. As well as the traditional strawberries with whipped cream."

Important: Sadly, Ivana passed away before Wimbledon 2024, so she couldn’t see Linda play there.

Linda’s Dad and Their Small-Town Life

Linda’s father, Drahos Nosek, is retired (meaning he no longer works). Ivana said in the same 2024 interview:

• "My husband spends most of his time here at home, walking and cycling in the mountains," referring to their small town of Bystřička, in the Vsetín district of the Czech Republic.

In 2022, Linda won an award for being the "most successful athlete in the city of Přerov." Her dad accepted the prize for her. He said:

• "We never expected her to be in the top 100 so quickly. When you realize how many tennis players in the world are produced by Russia, America, China and other countries, and we from the Czech Republic, from a village, come into this, it’s more or less a shock."

Linda’s Many Hobbies as a Kid

Linda said her parents never pushed her to only play tennis. She told reporters ahead of the finals:

• "I had, like, maybe six, seven, eight hobbies that I was focusing on."
• "It was never mainly tennis. I had all the gymnastics, all the horse riding, just all the sports in the world because my parents were very into any sort of movement."

Important: This shows Linda grew up with a happy, active life full of different activities, not just strict tennis training.

About the Author

This story was written by Emily Burack (she/her). She is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country magazine, where she writes about entertainment, celebrities, royals, and more. Before that, she was the deputy managing editor at a Jewish culture site called Hey Alma. You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms @emburack.

Summary

Linda Nosková is a Czech tennis player who made it to the Wimbledon final against Karolína Muchová. Her late mother Ivana, who died in 2024 after a long cancer fight, always dreamed of this but couldn’t be there. Linda’s family comes from a tiny village of about 200 people and started tennis late, but with love and support from her parents—who encouraged many sports and hobbies—she reached the top. Her dad is proud and shocked by her quick success. This is a heartwarming story of a small-town girl living a beautiful dream.

FAQ

Q1: What is Wimbledon?
A: Wimbledon is a very famous tennis tournament played in England on grass courts. It’s like the biggest, most special tennis event of the year.

Q2: Why couldn’t Linda’s mom see her play at Wimbledon 2024?
A: Ivana was very sick with cancer and passed away in summer 2024 before the tournament happened.

Q3: Where does Linda come from?
A: She comes from a small village in the Czech Republic called Bystřička (near Vsetín) with only about 200 people.

Q4: Did Linda only play tennis as a child?
A: No! She tried many things like gymnastics and horse riding because her parents loved all kinds of movement and didn’t push only tennis.

Q5: What is the Australian Open?
A: It’s another big tennis tournament held in Australia. Linda’s mom couldn’t travel there because she was too sick for the long trip.