Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova clinched the Billie Jean King Cup for Czechia by winning their singles matches against Ukraine, resulting in a 2-0 victory in the final held in Shenzhen, China. This triumph marks Czechia's 12th title in the competition, previously known as the Fed Cup, and the first since 2018.
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Noskova, ranked sixth, defeated seventh-ranked Elina Svitolina with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (5), while Muchova, ranked eighth, secured a win over 47th-ranked Anhelina Kalinina, winning 6-2, 6-3. "We just have the vibe in the locker room," Muchova remarked following the matches.
In the decisive moment of her match, Noskova delivered a powerful serve followed by a strong forehand, leaving Svitolina struggling to respond. The celebration was marked by Czech captain Barbora Strycova joining Noskova on the court as she fell back in joy after sealing the win, having served 10 aces compared to Svitolina's six.
Strycova made history by becoming the fourth woman to win the competition as both a player and a captain, joining renowned figures such as Margaret Court, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King. Strycova had previously won six titles as a player before taking on the captaincy this year.
Czechia's journey to the final included a shutout against Britain in the quarterfinals and a win over Spain in the semifinals, allowing top-ranked doubles player Katerina Siniakova to remain uninvolved in matches throughout the tournament. "I’m really glad that we didn’t ever have to go into doubles, the deciding match, which is always the most stressful one," Noskova noted.
Ukraine, appearing in its first final, had reached this stage after eliminating two-time defending champion Italy in the semifinals. The team was missing 10th-ranked Marta Kostyuk due to a wrist injury.