The bathroom break that changed everything: How Linda Noskova decided ‘I’m taking the big trophy’

Linda Noskova has revealed that an unexpected encounter with the Wimbledon trophies during a bathroom break became the turning point in her maiden Grand Slam final, inspiring her to chase the Venus Rosewater Dish instead of settling for the runner-up’s prize.

The 21-year-old defeated fellow Czech and Olympic doubles partner Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Centre Court to lift her first Grand Slam title and the biggest trophy of her career.

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With the match level after Muchova claimed the second set, Noskova headed off court to regroup. While making her way to the bathroom, she caught sight of the two Wimbledon trophies displayed in the clubhouse, a moment that instantly shifted her mindset.

“I was in the bathroom; I just splashed some cold water on me and started over again,” Noskova said after the match.

“But what really helped me was that the first step I took off court, the trophies were there. I was like, ‘I’m not going to take the small one, I’m taking the big one.’ I had been so close, and I thought this could be the heartbreak of my life.

“I kept looking at the big one and told myself, ‘I’m taking this one no matter what. Even if I have to leave my soul on the court in the third set.'”

Noskova said the brief pause allowed her to reset mentally before returning with renewed focus.

“I just started focusing on myself all over again. The match was starting from zero. Holding serve in the opening game of the third set was probably the key moment,” she added.

The victory made Noskova the youngest Wimbledon women’s singles champion since her childhood idol, Petra Kvitova, who won the first of her two titles at the All England Club in 2011. Kvitova watched this year’s final from the Royal Box as her compatriot followed in her footsteps.

Noskova also became only the second Czech player after Kvitova to win the Wimbledon title on her Grand Slam final debut.

Her triumph further underlined Czechia’s dominance in women’s tennis. She is now the fifth Czech Grand Slam singles champion and the third Czech woman to lift the Wimbledon crown in the past four years.

Adding another milestone to her breakthrough season, Noskova also became the first player since Maria Sharapova in 2004 to win both a grass-court lead-up event and Wimbledon in the same year.