Noskova Advances to Monterrey Open Final After Upsetting Navarro

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — In a thrilling semifinal match at the Monterrey Open, sixth-seeded Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic triumphed over second-seeded Emma Navarro of the United States, winning 7-6 (7), 7-5. The 19-year-old Noskova's victory propels her into the final, where she will face New Zealand's Lulu Sun, who is also in pursuit of her first WTA Tour title. Sun secured her spot in the final by defeating third-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in a closely contested match, finishing with scores of 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6). This matchup sets the stage for an exciting final, as both players are eager to claim their inaugural titles on the WTA Tour. The upcoming final is particularly intriguing given their recent encounter at the Cincinnati Open, where Sun emerged victorious against Noskova with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (4). Both players have demonstrated impressive performances this season, with Noskova reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Sun making headlines by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last month. Sun's journey in tennis includes a notable achievement in college, where she played a pivotal role in securing the University of Texas's victory in the 2021 NCAA team championship during her only season. As the Monterrey Open final approaches, both Noskova and Sun are poised to make their mark in the world of professional tennis.