Linda Nosková falls to Caty McNally in first match since Wimbledon title
Caty McNally handed Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková a 7-6 (5), 6-1 defeat in Toronto, overturning a 5-1 first-set deficit on a day of upsets at the National Bank Open.
Caty McNally defeated Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková 7-6 (5), 6-1 at the 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto. Nosková led 5-1 in the first set before losing it in a tiebreak, in what was reported as her first match since winning Wimbledon more than three weeks earlier.
Caty McNally defeated Linda Nosková 7-6 (5), 6-1 at the Canadian Open in Toronto, ending the Wimbledon champion's first tournament back in her opening match. Nosková led 5-1 in the first set before McNally turned the match around, taking the tiebreak and then racing through the second set. According to reports, the match was played on Wednesday in the second round, the Round of 64, and was Nosková's first competitive outing since she won the 2026 Wimbledon Championships more than three weeks earlier. The Czech, reported to be the sixth seed in Toronto, has won two singles titles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour since turning professional in 2019. McNally is an American. The result lands in a tournament already missing its defending champion: Victoria Mboko did not participate in this year's National Bank Open because of a knee injury. Reports also indicate that Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz lost their opening matches the same day, making Wednesday a day of early exits for some of the sport's biggest names.
McNally stuns Nosková in straight sets after first-set collapse
Caty McNally beat Linda Nosková 7-6 (5), 6-1 in Toronto, a result that turned on a remarkable first-set collapse. Nosková led 5-1 before losing six consecutive games to surrender the set in a tiebreak, which McNally took 7-5. The second set was one-sided, McNally closing out the match 6-1.
According to reports, the match was a second-round contest — the Round of 64 — played on Wednesday. Nosková, a Czech player, was the sixth seed at the tournament, per the reporting outlets, while McNally is American. Just Women's Sports and other outlets covering the National Bank Open described the first set as the decisive passage of play: Nosková appeared in control at 5-1, only for McNally to reel off game after game and force the tiebreak.
The straight-sets scoreline flatters neither the length nor the tension of the opening set. Nosková, who turned professional in 2019 and has won two singles titles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour, could not convert her early advantage into a set, and the match slipped away from there.
A Wimbledon champion's first outing back ends early
Linda Nosková arrived in Toronto carrying the heaviest credential in tennis: she is the reigning Wimbledon champion, having won the 2026 title at the All England Club. According to reports, the match against Caty McNally was her first competitive outing since that triumph more than three weeks earlier, making the straight-sets defeat a jarring return to action.
The Czech has been on the professional circuit since 2019 and has built a solid résumé in that time, collecting two singles titles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour. Wimbledon, though, elevated her standing considerably, and reports indicate she entered the National Bank Open as the sixth seed — a position that reflects how far her stock has risen.
That pedigree is what makes the loss stand out. Newly crowned Grand Slam champions often face a difficult adjustment in their first tournament back, and Nosková's early exit in Toronto fits that pattern. For a player who had just conquered the sport's most famous stage, the defeat marks an abrupt end to her first event as a major champion.
Nosková turns professional
Nosková accumulates two WTA singles titles and one doubles title
Nosková wins the 2026 Wimbledon Championships
Reigning champion Victoria Mboko does not participate due to a knee injury
Sixth seed Nosková plays her first match since Wimbledon, a second-round (Round of 64) match against American Caty McNally in Toronto
Nosková leads 5-1 in the first set but loses it; McNally wins 7-6 (5), 6-1
Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz also lose their opening matches
The Toronto field without defending champion Mboko
The 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto is being contested without its defending champion. Victoria Mboko, who lifted the title last year, is not participating in this year's tournament because of a knee injury. Her absence leaves the women's draw without its most recent winner and removes one of the event's leading home hopes. The tournament has nonetheless drawn a strong field, with Nosková among the seeded players in action. According to reports, the Czech entered as the sixth seed. With Mboko sidelined, the title will change hands in Toronto, though the identity of her successor remains an open question as the early rounds unfold.
A day of upsets in Toronto
Nosková's defeat was not the only surprise on Wednesday. According to reports, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz also lost their opening matches on the same day, making it a difficult round for several of the tournament's biggest names.
What comes next for McNally is unclear. Her next opponent, and how far she ultimately advanced in Toronto, have not been reported. For Nosková, the path forward is equally uncertain. Her results and schedule following the Canadian Open loss are not yet known. Both players leave Toronto with questions to answer — McNally about whether she can build on the biggest win of her season, and Nosková about how quickly she can rediscover the form that carried her to the Wimbledon title.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the match between Linda Nosková and Caty McNally at the Canadian Open?
Caty McNally defeated Linda Nosková 7-6 (5), 6-1. Nosková led 5-1 in the first set before losing it in a tiebreak, and McNally closed out the match by taking the second set comfortably. The match was played in Toronto at the 2026 National Bank Open.
How did Linda Nosková lose after leading 5-1 in the first set?
Nosková lost despite leading 5-1 in the first set. McNally fought back to force a tiebreak, won it 7-6 (5), and then dominated the second set 6-1. According to reports, it was Nosková's first match since winning Wimbledon more than three weeks earlier, which may have left her short of match rhythm.
Did Linda Nosková win Wimbledon before the 2026 Canadian Open?
Yes. Nosková won the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, and according to reports the Canadian Open match was her first since that triumph more than three weeks earlier. She turned professional in 2019 and has won two singles titles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour. Reports identify her as a Czech player and the sixth seed in Toronto.
Why didn't Victoria Mboko play at the 2026 Canadian Open?
No. Reigning champion Victoria Mboko did not participate in the 2026 National Bank Open due to a knee injury. The briefing does not say when she withdrew or when the injury occurred, and it is not yet known who won the tournament in her absence.
What other upsets happened at the 2026 National Bank Open on the same day?
According to reports, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz both lost their opening matches on the same day as Nosková's defeat. The reported Nosková–McNally match was a second-round (Round of 64) contest played on Wednesday in Toronto, with McNally, reported to be an American, advancing.
Compiled from reporting by 4 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
