Noskova outlasts Pegula in three sets to claim second career title in Berlin

Author: Noah Poser

2m read 21 Jun 2026 3h ago

Summary

Linda Noskova captured her second career title -- and her first on grass -- on Sunday in Berlin, defeating Jessica Pegula 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in just under two hours to win the 2026 VANDA Pharmaceuticals Berlin Tennis Open. With the victory, the 21-year-old is guaranteed to make her Top 10 debut on Monday.

highlights

Bouzkova beats Navarro to win Nottingham title

02:57

Linda Noskova hadn’t had much luck in championship matches entering Sunday’s Berlin final. But with everything on the line, the 21-year-old changed the narrative, defeating Jessica Pegula 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in just under two hours to win the 2026 VANDA Pharmaceuticals Berlin Tennis Open.

The title is the second of Noskova’s young career and her first on grass, as she improved to 2-5 in WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz finals. The victory also guarantees her Top 10 debut on Monday, when she will also surpass Karolina Muchova as the new Czech No. 1.

Nerves aside, Noskova had plenty to contend with before she even stepped on court. A severe early-afternoon storm caused damage around the grounds and forced the evacuation of fans, pushing the final back five and a half hours from its scheduled start.

Instead of the anticipated matinee, the fans who made their way back inside Steffen Graf stadium were treated to a prime-time installment of Noskova vs. Pegula, Part IV. And it lived up to the billing, as Noskova pushed through three tight sets to improve to 3-1 against the current World No. 4.

Championship recap: Noskova extends front-running dominance

Entering Sunday's final, Noskova was 16-1 after winning the opening set, having taken 16 straight matches from one set up since her loss to Mirra Andreeva in Brisbane in January. Make that 17-1 after she jumped ahead again against Pegula.

Noskova won the first three games by doing what she had done all week: serving big and hitting her opponents off the court. She also flashed her more unheralded skills, covering the court superbly before a volley winner sealed the break for 2-0. She followed with in a six-deuce game, finishing it with a crosscourt backhand winner for 3-0.

Pegula answered with three straight games to level at 3-3, but Noskova again came through in a marathon game to close out the set, converting her fourth set point of a five-deuce battle to break for a second time.

Pegula mounted another charge in the second set, winning 12 straight points from 3-3, 30-30 to 5-3, 0-30 to move within two points of taking the set. Noskova responded with four straight points to hold for 5-4, but Pegula served out the set in the next game to force a decider.

From there, Noskova rediscovered her first-set level, again breaking for 2-0 and racing to a 3-0 lead. Pegula couldn't conjure any third-set heroics like she did in the semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka, as Noskova dug deep to save two break points while serving at 4-2.

Pegula saved one championship point on serve in the penultimate game to extend the match, but after losing three straight finals, Noskova wasn't going to let this one slip away. She closed with authority, firing a forehand winner to open the game, and after Pegula's final backhand sailed long, the Czech fell to the ground in celebration.

With the victory, Noskova became the second Czech woman to win a title Sunday, after Marie Bouzkova outlasted Emma Navarro in a three-hour thriller to claim the Nottingham crown. It's the fourth time two Czech women have won WTA singles titles on the same day, joining: