The emotional women’s final at Wimbledon stirs up strong emotions in tennis legend Boris Becker.
The path to the title actually seemed all set—after all, her lead could hardly have been any greater. In the women’s final at Wimbledon, Czech player Linda Nosková was in command. She had won the first set against her compatriot Karolína Muchová 6–2 and held a 5–2 lead in the second set.
Nosková was serving for the match when truly unbelievable scenes unfolded. The 21-year-old squandered no fewer than five match points and lost the second set, which had seemed all but certain, 5–7. An unprecedented collapse in performance.
But anyone who thought the Czech player would then succumb to her compatriot was in for a surprise. The 21-year-old regained her composure in the third set, winning it 6–3 and securing her first Grand Slam title.
Nosková thought of her late mother
The emotional roller coaster even gave tennis legend Boris Becker goosebumps. While former tennis player Andrea Petkovic could hardly explain what had happened, Becker offered his personal explanation on their joint podcast.
“I think it also had to do with the fact that her mother passed away two years ago, shortly before Wimbledon. You become very emotional, very sensitive during a phase like that. You think about who got you into tennis—and who is no longer in the players’ box,” Becker said with certainty.
“You look deep inside yourself, into your soul. And maybe she started a conversation with her late mother there and found comfort in that.”
Becker and Petkovic struggle to hold back tears
So while a Grand Slam final is extraordinarily important, it’s still “just a tennis match. You’re in the Wimbledon final—be happy. There are far worse things than winning or losing a tennis match. You’re still alive,” the 58-year-old continued.
In her acceptance speech, Nosková later emotionally thanked her mom and sent a kiss toward the sky.
“For me, that was the most emotional moment of the entire Wimbledon tournament, when she thanked her mother,” Becker said, fighting back tears.
Petkovic also became emotional and explained that the scene had deeply moved her as well. “Boris, we’re both crying. I was in tears.”