Heartbreaking reports emerge of Linda Noskova's mother's death a day before Czech teenager's Wimbledon 2024 campaign
19-year-old Czech prodigy Linda Noskova's mother Ivana reportedly passed away on Sunday, June 30, a day ahead of the start of the main draw matches at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Noskova took part in both ladies singles and doubles at the prestigious grasscourt Major, but was ousted from both categories. No formal confirmation of the reports have come from the 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalist's side yet.
Noskova was seeded No. 26 at Wimbledon, and started her campaign on Monday, July 1, against Sara Errani. The Czech registered a straight-sets win over the Italian and progressed to the second round, where she faced former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
The Canadian emerged victorious, cutting short Noskova's singles campaign at SW19 on Wednesday, July 3. In doubles, the Czech paired up with Swiss-born Spaniard Rebeka Masarova, and the pair was ousted by the duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the first round on Thursday, July 4.
Daniela Hutkova, the manager of tennis club TK Precheza, has reportedly confirmed the news of Noskova's mother Ivana's tragic passing to Czech media outlet Denik.cz. TK Precheza is a club based in the Czech city of Prerov, where Noskova once trained.
Earlier this year, Ivana had been interviewed by the same outlet during her daughter's 2024 Australian Open campaign. At one point in the interview, she had revealed that she could not make it to Melbourne to support her daughter, even if Noskova had reached the final.
Noskova made it to the quarterfinals to mark her best finish yet at a Major. She also registered a stunning upset against stunning World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round. The Czech astonishingly bounced back from a set down to engineer the Pole's early exit from the year's first Grand Slam.
"Certainly not (about traveling to Melbourne for the Australian Open), even if she played the final. I am sick, the long journey itself is exhausting. We watch everything at home, keep our fingers crossed and stay connected. Over the years, we have traveled a lot together," Ivana had said.
"I'm really looking forward to Wimbledon" - Linda Noskova's mother Ivana in January 2024
During the same interview with Denik.cz, Ivana was asked if there is a tournament she would like to travel to with her daughter. In her response, she had named Wimbledon, before revealing that health issues had prevented her from attending Noskova's SW19 debut in 2023; a first-round loss to Hungarian Dalma Galfi.
"I'm really looking forward to Wimbledon! It didn't work out once, last year she was officially there for the first time, but I couldn't for health reasons. I'm really looking forward to the atmosphere, the specific game on grass. Just like traditional strawberries with whipped cream," Ivana had said.
Noskova is currently the World No. 26 in the WTA rankings, the highest-ranked Czech women's tennis player in singles after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, the World No. 6.