Eyes swollen with tears and her dream slipping away, 21-year-old Linda Noskova saw the Venus Rosewater Dish on her way to the locker room and decided she wasn't leaving without the big one. Photo: AFP
Linda Noskova revealed a glimpse of the Wimbledon trophy during a bathroom break inspired her fightback to beat Karolina Muchova in an extraordinary final on Saturday.
Noskova was in danger of blowing her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title after squandering five match points to blow a 5-2 lead in a chaotic second set on Centre Court. The 21-year-old hid her head in a towel and wiped away tears of frustration after her fellow Czech and close friend Muchova levelled the final at one-set all.
Noskova trudged sadly towards the locker room in a bid to recompose herself for the final set. On that walk, she noticed the Venus Rosewater Dish gleaming in a trophy cabinet alongside the runners-up shield.
The thought of having to make do with the losers' consolation prize shook Noskova out of her malaise and she stormed back to take the title in the final set.
