In the sweltering heat of Beijing's Diamond Court, Linda Nosková continued her surprising rampage at the 2025 China Open, dispatching Britain's Sonay Kartal in straight sets during Thursday's quarterfinal clash. The 20-year-old Czech, seeded 26th, wrapped up a 6-3, 7-5 victory that lasted just under two hours, showcasing her blistering forehand and unflappable serve. Indeed, Nosková's run has been nothing short of remarkable, turning heads in a tournament stacked with top talent.
Nosková's journey to the semifinals wasn't without drama. Earlier, she outlasted home favorite Qinwen Zheng in the round of 32, claiming a 6-4, 3-6, 3-0 win when the seventh seed retired due to injury. That upset sent ripples through the crowd, highlighting the grueling physical toll of the late-season swing. Then came Anastasia Potapova in the round of 16, where Nosková edged a tight 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 battle, her resilience shining through in the decider. However, against Kartal, who had clawed her way from qualifiers, Nosková was more clinical from the start, breaking serve twice in the opener and fending off three set points in the second.
This marks Nosková's deepest run at a WTA 1000 event since her Australian Open quarterfinal last year. At No. 28 in the rankings, she's now eyeing a spot in the final four, potentially facing world No. 1 Iga Świątek or another heavy hitter. Moreover, her success here boosts her year-end prospects, with points piling up amid a crowded fall schedule. Yet, the Beijing Open has seen its share of retirements this week, underscoring players' fatigue complaints.
Nosková's poise under pressure raises questions about the next generation's readiness to challenge the old guard—what might this mean for women's tennis as the season winds down?