Prague Open: Linette wins the final

Magda Linette won her first title in four years when she beat sixth seed and fellow Poland player Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-1 to win the Prague Open on Friday.

It’s the third title of Linette’s career, but first since 2020, and will move her up seven places in the rankings to No 41. It was also the first all-Polish final on the WTA Tour.

“I knew how tough it was going to be,” said Linette, who will now quickly make her way to Paris where she will join Frech on the Poland team for the Olympic Games. “I needed to play my best to beat her…and I’m glad I took all my chances today.”

Fourth seed Linette had beaten German qualifier Mona Barthel (7-6 (4), 6-4), Spaniard Rebeka Masarova (6-3, 6-4), Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova, the No 5 seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) and top seed Linda Noskova (6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2)) in the previous rounds of the Prague tournament.

Frech, ranked No 57, defeated Australian Astra Sharma (6-4, 2-6, 6-2), Dominika Salkova (6-4, 6-7 (4), 2-2 ret.), Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, the No 3 seed (2-6, 6-0, 6-1) and wildcard Laura Samson (3-6, 6-0, 4-2 ret.).