Sleep queen Linda Noskova is Adelaide's ultimate sleeper with inspiring final run
The Czech teen has picked up her first Top 10 and Top 5 victories in a breakthrough performance at the WTA 500 event this week.
Sleep is for the weak, some say. That adage may not apply to professional tennis players however, especially Linda Noskova.
“I love to sleep. Last three days I really slept like a lot, so that's really great,” the Czech told press in Adelaide.
No one should be sleeping on the 18-year-old any longer. Noskova—who made her major debut last year at Roland Garros, went on to crack the Top 90 and was one half of the duo that beat the Williams sisters at the US Open—has put together a breakthrough week in reaching her first tour-level final at a WTA 500 no less.
Her run was ignited by a match point save in the first round of qualifying against Anna Kalinskaya. A maiden Top 10 win was then realized in her main-draw opener with Daria Kasatkina and after dispatching Claire Liu, she once again staved off a match point to topple Victoria Azarenka.
Turning around to play the next day after a three-hour plus marathon, prioritizing rest proved pivotal for Noskova ahead of her semifinal. In a meeting of fatigued competitors, the world No. 102 rose to the occasion to oust second-ranked Ons Jabeur, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
“I did feel some pain in my left leg today, but it didn't affect me probably as much as Ons. I just hope she will get better soon. That's the main goal of all of us.
When Noskova was informed she would climb to No. 43 with a win over Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s final, her response was sincere.
“Damn,” she said was a smile.
“There are obviously bigger goals each day: just improving my game and the results are going to come on its own hopefully.”
So what’s Noskova’s game plan against Sabalenka? Trying to finish the point first for starters, and of course, hitting the pillow hard.
“Obviously I will sleep like 12 hours I would say today. That's going to be my recovery.”
Spoken like a true sleeper.