Linda Noskova recovered from an attack of nerves that saw her squander five match points in the second set as she completed a 6-2 5-7 6-3 win over fellow Czech Karolina Muchova in a roller-coaster Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was in complete control as she won the opening set in 32 minutes and led 5-2 in the second in the first Grand Slam singles final between two women from the Czech Republic in the professional era.

But a battling Muchova saved three match points at 2-5, another in the next game when a faltering Noskova served a double fault, and then another at 4-5 as a previously one-sided contest belatedly burst into life on Centre Court.

Ninth seed Noskova lost five successive games as Muchova dragged the match into a decider.

Somehow Noskova banished the demons in her head as she regained control to forge 5-2 ahead in the third set.

The 29-year-old Muchova pulled one game back as the shadows crept across the court, but when Noskova was asked to serve for the match for a second time, she made no mistake to claim her first Grand Slam title.

After bringing up another two match points, well more than an hour after her first one, she banged down an unreturnable serve before collapsing to the court in relief as much as joy.

She is the third Czech player in four years to win the Wimbledon women’s title after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.

“I have ⁠been enjoying these two weeks so much, through the sad tears and the happy tears, all the sweat and blood I put into ⁠this,” an emotional Noskova said on court after blowing a ⁠kiss to the sky in honour of her mum who died two years ago.

“It was all worth it, so I will definitely never forget this week, these two weeks.”

It was an emotional moment too for Muchova, who for the ‌second time in a Grand Slam final ended up beaten.

“It’s really tough to find any words,” 10th seed Muchova, who reached the French Open final three years ago but has had ‌to ‌battle with injuries, said. “To my ex-friend … I’m only kidding.

“This was your first Grand Slam final and the way you handled it and the way you played was really unbelievable.”

The Father Emir of Qatar, ⁠Sheikh Hamad bin ⁠Khalifa Al Thani, ‌has died at the age of ⁠74, says the Amiri ⁠Diwan.

“With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, the Amiri Diwan mourns the great loss to the nation of the late – may God have mercy on him – His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away this morning,” the Amiri Diwan said in a statement on Sunday.

Qatar announced a four-day period of public mourning starting Monday, with work suspended at government agencies and public bodies and flags to be lowered to half-mast.

Sheikh Hamad , who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, was a key architect of the energy-rich country’s development.

During his reign, the nation saw economic, social and cultural development that bolstered its status in the international community.

Sheikh Hamad oversaw major economic investment and fostered wide-ranging international partnerships as the country became the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Qatar’s political influence today stretches across many parts of the world including North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In 2022, Qatar hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup, the world’s most-watched football tournament. Sheikh Hamad received rapturous applause from fans attending its opening match.

His time in power saw the launch of Al Jazeera News Channel in 1996 which within years transformed into one of the world’s most influential media networks.

Sheikh Hamad’s tenure also saw the promulgation of Qatar’s first permanent constitution in 2004 and the introduction of municipal elections, in which women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates.

In 2013, he handed over power to his son and heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was then 33, in a rare ‌abdication by a hereditary Gulf Arab ruler.

Abdulla Banndar el Etaibi, Assistant Professor in International Affairs at Qatar University, said Sheikh Hamad turned Qatar into an “extraordinary country”.

“We’re talking about someone who left a legacy all over the world, not only on Qatar. He worked really hard to turn Qatar from a normal country into a prominent and extraordinary country,” he told Al Jazeera.

“He had so many dreams of so many things. He invested a lot in LNG. This helped Qatar develop even more.”

Tributes pour in

Several world leaders offered their condolences for the death of Sheikh Hamad.

“Deepest condolences and sympathies to the sisterly State of Qatar, to its Amir, government, and people, on the passing of the late, by God’s permission, His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi wrote on X.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “deep grief” over the passing of Sheikh Hamad.

“The President extended his heartfelt condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Government and the brotherly people of Qatar on this sad occasion. He paid tribute to the late Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s visionary leadership and his valuable contributions to the progress and development of Qatar, as well as to regional peace and cooperation,” the president’s office said in a statement.

United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also offered his sympathies.

“I extend my sincere condolences and sympathy to my brother @TamimBinHamad and his family on the passing of his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al ⁠Thani. May God grant him mercy, rest his soul in eternal peace, and bring comfort to his family during this difficult time,” he wrote on X.

[Aljazeera]

Defending champions Argentina will face England in the semifinals of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating ten man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time thanks to a decisive long-range effort by Julian Alvarez.

Alexis Mac Allister headed in a 10th-minute cross by Lionel Messi to hand Argentina the lead at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday.

It was far from the dominant display that the South Americans would have hoped for thereafter, and the Europeans deservedly levelled in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye slotted home from close range.

The Swiss controversially lost Breel Embolo to a second yellow in the 72nd minute for simulation. VAR had to intervene, however, to request the referee to review whether the booking given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was a case of mistaken identity – a new VAR rule for this tournament.

Embolo appeared to dive to win the free kick and Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro changed his decision, which resulted in an inconsolable Embolo given his marching orders.

Argentina pressed for the winner in normal time and nearly found their reward with virtually the last kick of the period when Lisandro Martinez flung himself at a loose ball in the box, but his scissor-kick didn’t have the power to beat the keeper.

Messi had himself come close when through, one-on-one, but his chip was saved. The referee’s assistant raised his flag to suggest the effort would have been offside anyway, although replays show a goal may well have stood – it would have been Messi’s ninth in six appearances at the tournament.

It was Alvarez who stole the show on this occasion, however, with a fizzing effort from 25 yards which rifled into the top right corner of the goal in the 112th minute

As the Swiss threw bodies forward in the dying seconds, there were huge holes left at the back and Lautaro Martinez capitalised deep into stoppage time in extra time to slot home a third after a counterattack led by Thiago Almada, whose initial shot deflected kindly into his teammate’s path.

Argentina will now face England in the semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. Spain play France, the team Argentina defeated in the final at Qatar 2022, on Tuesday in the other last-four clash.

Only two nations have previously defended a World Cup title, Italy and Brazil.

The taxing nature of the competition, which saw Argentina also pushed to extra time in the round of 32 by Cape Verde, may play a part.

England, though, also needed extra time to beat Norway on Saturday, and 39-year-old Messi seems determined to defy time and can’t be ruled out from finding yet more magical moments.

(Aljazeera)