Ann Li tennis was a major reason Linda Noskova’s US Open third-round match drew extra attention on day six in New York. Earlier this season, Li pushed Noskova to three sets in their only WTA meeting, a result that suggested the American could again make things difficult for the Czech teenager.
Noskova reached the third round with back-to-back straight-set wins, cruising past Volynets in the first round and Tararudee in the second. That run helped build some momentum, but it did not erase the fact that Li had already shown she could stay with Noskova over a longer match this season.
Why the matchup looked closer than Noskova’s first two rounds
The key detail was simple: Ann Li had already taken Linda Noskova to three sets in their only WTA meeting this season. In a Grand Slam setting, that kind of head-to-head history matters, especially when one player has been efficient through the opening rounds and the other has a recent proof point that she can extend the contest.
Noskova also entered the match with strong overall form. She had won nine straight Grand Slam matches and was carrying a 3-1 head-to-head advantage in the broader picture around the matchup. Still, Li’s earlier three-set effort made this feel like a third-round test rather than a comfortable path forward.
What it meant on day six
For Noskova, the assignment was to keep the match on her terms and avoid giving Li the kind of opening that can turn a seeded player’s afternoon into a long one. For Li, the case was straightforward: she had already shown enough in their first meeting to suggest she could hang around again.
That is why the matchup stood out among the US Open Day 6 third-round matches. Noskova had the cleaner results so far, but Ann Li tennis had already given her one of the tougher tests in their recent history.
