"I was a big fan of Serena Williams and always probably will be": Linda Noskova names American great as her idol after continuing Australian Open run

Tuesday, 23 January 2024 at 08:00

After reaching her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2024 Australian Open, Linda Noskova opened up about her admiration of WTA legend Serena Williams due to the latter's playing style and off-court persona.

The rising Czech star advanced to the final eight in Melbourne following the withdrawal of opponent Elina Svitolina, who retired at 0-3 down in the first set of their fourth round encounter due to injury. Noskova shocked the world when she defeated World No.1 and tournament favorite Iga Swiatek in the third round, and has continued her breakout run Down Under with her first Major quarterfinal showing.

Noskova labels Williams as favorite player growing up

In her post-match interview, the World No.50 was asked to name her favorite players. After selecting the American superstar, Noskova also had some kind words for her Ukrainian opponent, who was forced to forfeit the match after obtaining a back injury.

"Well, when I was younger, I didn't really watch tennis as much as... But I think when I kind of got into it, I was a big fan of Serena," said Noskova. "I always am and always probably will be. I like her style a lot and the way she carries herself and the person that she is. She's definitely on top of my charts.
"I would actually say that Elina might have been one of them as well. I like her style a lot. She can change the direction or the rhythm of the game really good, so I was always really appreciated of such a player that can go on the net or can do slice. I was counting on this a little for today. Unfortunately, we didn't really get to know each other on court today, but maybe next time when we will play each other."

Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

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