Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova have been among the world’s brightest talents for the last couple of years. The 17-year-old Linda is already ranked in the top-80, winning her first WTA title last year and entering the Australian Open directly. Her 15-year-old sister Brenda is world no. 135 and the youngest player in the top-250. Brenda claimed her first professional title a year ago at 14, showing her rich talent and wrapping up the 2022 season in the top-150 after no less than eight ITF crowns, five in a row. Brenda will make her Major debut at 15, passing three qualifying rounds in Melbourne and becoming the fifth-youngest qualifier at the Australian Open. A teenager claimed two victories and faced the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the final qualifying round. Fruhvirtova prevailed 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 53 minutes to join her sister in the main draw for the first time at this level.
Brenda Fruhvirtova will make her Major debut at the Australian Open.
Brenda won five points more than her rival and prevailed in the decisive moments to emerge at the top and achieve another massive milestone. The young Czech converted only six out of 24 points. However, three of them came in the decider, enough to send her over the top. They traded breaks twice in the opening set, and Bouzas Maneiro delivered her third straight break of serve with a return winner for 5-3. The Spaniard came from 40-0 down in the ninth game and clinched the opener 6-3 with a service winner. They traded breaks early in the second set, and Brenda produced four comfortable holds after that to preserve energy.
Jessica survived the eighth game and introduced a tie break, a must-winning one for the Czech. A teenager did not lose a point behind the initial shot and earned two mini-breaks to clinch the breaker 7-2 and force a decider after almost two hours. The final set offered numerous deuces, with two rivals pushing each other to the limits. Fruhvirtova broke twice early and held after deuces in game four for 3-1. Bouzas Maneiro broke back in game six to lock the result at 3-3 and become the favorite. The Spaniard saved break points in game seven, and the Czech grabbed the next one after many deuces for 4-4 and more drama. Brenda made one last push in the ninth game and broke at love with a forehand crosscourt winner that sent her 5-4 in front. The young gun survived three break points while serving for the victory in game ten. Brenda clinched the first match point with a service winner to emerge at the top and achieve a massive milestone at such a young age.