Czech Republic's Linda Noskova eliminated Romania's Sorana Cirstea from the Wimbledon third round on Saturday, securing a dramatic three-set victory after saving a match point.
The 21-year-old Noskova, ranked 12th globally, rallied from a set down to defeat the 36-year-old world number 18 Cirstea with a final score of 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (9) in a match that lasted two hours and 16 minutes.
Cirstea missed the chance to reach the round of 16 at the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time in her career, having recorded 11 winners and only eight unforced errors in her dominant opening set before Noskova mounted a comeback.
Prior to the match, Cirstea had secured her third-round spot by defeating Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-4 in 72 minutes on Friday, committing fewer than 10 unforced errors.
Cirstea Reflects on Frequent Matchups
Speaking before the match, Cirstea noted the unusual frequency of facing Noskova in 2026. "I said, as a joke, that I would like to try other opponents.
It rarely happens to me to be in June or July and play five times with a player, but it happens," she said.
"We know each other quite well, I don't think we have played on grass against each other.
A solid player, a good player, who is in the top 10, I don't think she needs much description, but at the same time, I have won three matches this year against her and I think I can play a good match."
Cirstea also discussed her on-court adjustments, service precision, and physical recovery from a recent injury at Queen's in an interview following her victory against Birrell.
"With each match I start to feel a bit more comfortable on this surface and I try to understand how it works, because it is atypical.
I don't have that much time to get used to the grass, but you can see progress from day to day," she stated.
Tactical Adjustments and Grass Adaptation
The Romanian player elaborated on the tactical analysis she performed with her coach, Adrian Cruciat, to enhance her first-serve percentage and optimize her baseline movements on the grass courts.
"I had a better level than in the first round, which makes me happy. Overall, it was a good match.
I think I managed to do almost everything I set out to do," Cirstea said.
"After the first match, I talked a little with Adrian and told him that I only had 50 percent first serve in.
That is quite low for a surface like grass. Here it is important to play with the first serve.
I tried to be more careful."
Cirstea concluded her remarks by reflecting on the uniqueness of playing Noskova on grass for the first time and expressing appreciation for the supportive crowd at the All England Club.
"I missed it, because I haven't played two tournaments with her. I think this is the fifth time we meet this year.
I don't know if it has ever happened to me to be in July and meet the same player five times.
I would like to try other opponents too. But that's it.
We know each other quite well."
"I am calm, I am happy and I hope to play a good match in the third round.
I was lucky that the injury at Queen's was not so serious and I could recover in 10 days.
But grass is an atypical surface, on which you can get injured very easily."
Following this final Wimbledon appearance of her career, Cirstea is scheduled to transition back to clay surfaces for the upcoming tournament in Iasi, scheduled between July 13 and July 19, 2026.
