Brenda Fruhvirtova started her Australian Open 2024 journey with a thumping win over Ana Bogdan at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
Fruhvirtova, born in 2007, won eight out of nine games and recorded her first win in the first Slam of 2024 without much trouble and became the youngest player to win an Australian Open singles main draw match since Coco Gauff in 2020.
The 16-year-old Czech player had to navigate through the qualifiers to secure a spot in the main draw, yet she triumphed over all her opponents without significant challenges, earning a place in the main draw of the 2024 Australian Open alongside several teenage prodigies.
In the women's draw, three 16-year-old players are aiming to make their mark in history. Fruhvirtova, following her first-round victory, has already rewritten the record books.
The initial stages of the match were tense for the teenager, struggling to trouble her opponent during returns, and encountering difficulties while serving. This resulted in a swift 6-2 first-set win for Bogdan.
However, as the match progressed, the young player showcased why she is among the most talented of her generation. She broke her opponent at the beginning of the second set, although she promptly lost the break. At 4-4, the Romanian came close to taking a 5-4 lead with a break point, nearing victory.
In an impressive series of points, Fruhvirtova averted that scenario, winning seven of the next eight rallies to claim the second set 6-4.
Having forced the match into a decider after winning the second set, the third set was dominated by the Czech player. She swiftly took a 5-1 lead, but faced challenges in closing out the match, requiring five match points and three games to secure victory.
Ultimately, Fruhvirtova emerged victorious with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 scoreline, marking her first Grand Slam main draw win and becoming the youngest woman to win a singles main draw match in Melbourne since Coco Gauff in 2020.
