US Open 2026: Noskova storms into third round with straight-sets win
Synopsis
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova is rewriting her own Grand Slam record in 2026 — her 11th match win of the year at the majors is already nearly double her previous best. A third-round showdown with Ann Li, whom she has already beaten this year, now stands between her and a deep run at Flushing Meadows.
Key Takeaways
6 seed and Wimbledon champion, beat Lanlana Tararudee in straight sets at Louis Armstrong Stadium on 3 September 2026 .
Noskova won 12 of 15 net points , with a serve break in the seventh game of the first set proving decisive.
The win is her 11th Grand Slam match victory in 2026 , nearly double her previous best of six in 2024 .
Tararudee was making her US Open main-draw debut and has won two WTA 125 titles this season.
29 seed Ann Li in the third round; she beat Li in three sets in Dubai earlier this year.
Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed, powered into the third round of the US Open 2026 with a commanding straight-sets victory over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York on 3 September. The Czech star's win extends her remarkable Grand Slam winning streak through the summer.
How the Match Unfolded
Both players held firm on serve in the opening exchanges, but Noskova's relentless baseline pressure gradually wore down Tararudee. The decisive moment arrived in the seventh game of the first set, when Noskova broke her opponent's serve — a breakthrough that proved sufficient to clinch the set. Her aggressive net approach was a defining feature: she won 12 of 15 net points across the match.
The second set was a more straightforward affair. Noskova raced to a 3-0 lead early and never relinquished control, dictating rallies with authority until the chair umpire's final call sealed the contest.
A Record-Breaking Grand Slam Run
The victory marked Noskova's 11th Grand Slam match win in 2026 — the most she has recorded in a single calendar year. Her previous best stood at six main-draw match wins in 2024. Beyond Wimbledon, she reached the third round at the Australian Open this year, though she exited in the first round at Roland Garros. By reaching Round 3 at Flushing Meadows, she has at least matched her best-ever result at the US Open; last year, she fell in this very round to compatriot Karolina Muchova.
Tararudee's Debut and Rising Career
For Lanlana Tararudee, the defeat came on her US Open main-draw debut and was her second loss in as many matches against top-10 opponents this season. Despite the result, the Thai player is enjoying the finest season of her career, having reached the second round at both the US Open and Wimbledon and claiming two WTA 125 titles in 2026.
What's Next for Noskova
Noskova's third-round opponent will be No. 29 seed Ann Li of the United States, who ground out a 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 win over Donna Vekic in 2 hours and 44 minutes. The two have met before — Noskova edged Li in a tightly contested three-set encounter in Dubai earlier this year, a result she will look to replicate on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
Point of View
But Noskova already owns a head-to-head win this year. If she can replicate that Dubai performance on the faster New York hard courts, a deep US Open run is firmly on the table.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Linda Noskova beat in the US Open 2026 second round?
Noskova defeated Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee in straight sets at Louis Armstrong Stadium on 3 September 2026. It was Tararudee's US Open main-draw debut.
How many Grand Slam match wins does Noskova have in 2026?
Noskova has recorded 11 Grand Slam match wins in 2026, the most in a single calendar year for her. Her previous best was six main-draw match wins in 2024.
Who does Noskova play in the US Open third round?
Noskova will face No. 29 seed Ann Li of the United States in the third round. Li beat Donna Vekic 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 44 minutes to advance.
Have Noskova and Ann Li played before?
Yes. Noskova beat Li in a three-set match in Dubai earlier in 2026. She will look to repeat that result at Flushing Meadows.
What is Lanlana Tararudee's best result in 2026?
Tararudee reached the second round at both the US Open and Wimbledon in 2026 and won two WTA 125 titles, marking the best season of her career to date.
