In an interview with Czech outlet iSport, external in January 2024, Noskova’s mother described her daughter as “unflappable”.
“She takes after my husband in that regard. She simply doesn’t let things bother her,” she said.
“Whether it’s a break point or a match point, she stays just as calm.
“It’s not that she doesn’t care – it’s just she’s able to detach herself from the situation.”
It was that inner strength that Noskova drew from on Saturday. She was the better player for the majority of the match but – after Muchova saved three championship points when serving – the tension was obvious.
Noskova only double-faulted twice in the second set – when she served for the title at 5-3 up. Her ball toss went awry, her footwork was a step slower, and she was more agitated, at one point screaming in frustration after a netted forehand.
After being broken on her first attempt to serve out victory, Noskova put her fingers in her ears as she walked back to her chair. After Muchova won the next two games, Noskova hid her head in a towel as her support box sat and watched in silence.
“It was so tense, not just for the players but for the people around me,” former British number one Laura Robson, watching on Centre Court, said.
“People are getting their phones out to get the winning moments, and then the phones are going away.”
After losing the set, Noskova went off court.
“I was in the bathroom. I just splashed some cold water on me, started over again,” Noskova said.
“What really helped me [was] 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 have been so close. This will probably be the heartbreak of my life.'”
When she came back, she saved three break points in her first service game, broke Muchova in the next, and did not look back.
“How about her resilience, her character, her heart?” McEnroe said.
“To find something within, when you’ve been so close so many times, is pretty awesome to watch.”
