Czech teenage qualifier Linda Nosková is through to the Adelaide International tennis final after pulling off a shock victory over injured world number two Ons Jabeur, of Tunisia.
Key points:
- Nosková defeated Jabeur 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
- The Czech had to qualify for the main draw
- She will play Aryna Sabalenka in the final
Eighteen-year-old Noskova, ranked 102 in the world, triumphed 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 over top seed Jabeur, the two-time Grand Slam finalist who needed a medical timeout for treatment on her back during the opening set.
Nosková will take on world number five Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s final.
Sabalenka booked her spot in the tournament decider with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Irina-Camelia Begu.
Nosková has now won six consecutive matches in only her sixth appearance in the main draw of a WTA event.
She had to save match points during qualifying just to make it to the main draw in Adelaide and is now just one win away from snaring her first WTA Tour title.
Nosková was trying to stay level-headed after posting the biggest win of her career with victory over Jabeur.
“Definitely a tough match. I don’t think either of us played 100 per cent,” she said during her on-court interview.
“So I’m glad I had the last point to win. I’m just really glad to play like this.
“I’m just going for it 100 per cent all the time. It’s just in or out. I’m just trying to push through.”
Jabeur got only 50 per cent of her first serves in and converted just two of her 12 break-point opportunities.
Her 33 unforced errors also played a key role in the loss.
AAP