July 11 (UPI) — Linda Noskova’s grasp on momentum was as sure as her sweat-soaked racket grip, but she shifted focus and strategy late to fend off pesky Czech countrywoman Karolina Muchova to win Wimbledon 2026 on Saturday in London.

Noskova pressured with power early, but failed to convert on five championship points in the second set of the 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory on Center Court. The energy-seeping 21-year-old stared at the trophy after her disastrous second set to inspire an unearthed rhythm, dispatching her 29-year-old foe in the 2-hour, 28-minute match.

“I have been enjoying these two weeks so much, all the sad tears, all the happy tears and sweat and blood was all worth it,” Noskova said on the ESPN broadcast. “I’ll definitely never forget these two weeks.”

Noskova fired 10 aces against Muchova’s six. She topped Muchova 44-35 in winners and converted 4 of 13 break point chances. Muchova converted just 2 of 15 break point chances.

“It feels incredible,” Noskova said. “All the matches have been so tough, physically or mentally tough, today especially. It’s never easy to get the last point “She really made me work for it.”

Noskova raced out to a 4-1 lead in the first set, including a break of Muchova’s second serve. She also broke Muchova for set point, steering herself toward the Venus Rosewater Dish and $4.8 million first-place prize.

The Czechs exchanged points through the first four games of the second set. Noskova held in the fifth, broke Muchova in the sixth and held again in the seventh for a 5-2 advantage.

Muchova mustered all her remaining energy to go on a frenetic run to drag the match to a third set. She won five consecutive games to end the second, tying the match. She broke Noskova’s final two serves of the set during the rally, which came as her foe lost significant power from her serves and returns.

But Noskova stole a glance at the trophy and immediately halted the comeback, winning the first three games of the last set. She gained championship point when Muchova failed to get her racket on a fiery final serve.

Noskova, who collapsed on the pristine All-England Club lawn in celebration, thanked her friends and family, including her late mother, at the trophy presentation.

“I definitely would not be standing here without her, so thank you,” Noskova said of her mother, Ivana, who died in 2024 after a battle with cancer.

Muchova, Noskova’s doubles partner at the 2024 Olympics, earned $1.08 million for her runner-up finish. The two-time Grand Slam finalist also will move from No. 9 to 6 in the WTA singles rankings. Noskova will climb from No. 12 to 7.

“I’ll be fighting,” Muchova said. “I’ll be fighting more. I want the trophy. I hope I get a chance to get to the final again and I’ll come back.”

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy will take on No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men’s singles final at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday in London. That match also will air on ESPN.