CZECH teenager Linda Fruhvirtova is a rising star on the WTA Tour and has just claimed her first ever WTA 1000 win at the Miami Open. The Czech 16-year-old defeated Danka Kovinic 6-0 6-4 in a stunning win to announce herself. Ranked 279th in the world, the soon-to-be 17-year-old was knocked out in just the first round of qualifying a fortnight ago in the BNP Paribas Open. Fast forward to Miami, and Fruhvirtova was handed a wildcard to avoid qualifying, and drew world number 66, Kovinic.
More than 10 years her senior, Kovinic was predicted to win fairly well, but instead, Fruhvirtova showcase all of her ability in a 6-0 6-4 smashing. Her serve in particularly was remarkably, recording a 71.1 per cent success rate off her first serve, from a 74.5 per cent clip. She also only faced three break points, saving two of them. By comparison, she broke Kovinic five times, three of which came in the first set to take home her first bagel on the WTA Tour.
Previously she reached the Round of 16 in Cleveland last August which was a WTA Tour event, as well as the last eight in Charleston 12 months ago. Aside from toppling an injured Alize Cornet in three sets, Fruhvirtova had not beaten a player inside the Top 100 before. Now that box has been ticked, as the Czech talent – who has largely played on the ITF Tour – reached number two in the Junior World Rankings.
Last year alone, Fruhvirtova showed her ability to win on multiple surfaces, with J1 titles on clay (two) and grass (one), as well as a J2 title on hard court. In her most recent title in Bradenton, she actually beat younger sister Brenda Fruhvirtova – remarkably just 14-years-old and already ranked third in the world for Juniors – when her sister had to retire in the third game.
Though her fledgling career is only new, the Czech teenager is expected to have a bright one, and her victory over a top 100 player so convincingly is a huge positive for her future. She will now take on Belgian 20th seed Elise Mertens for a spot in the Round of 32.
OTHER MIAMI OPEN ROUND OF 128 WOMEN’S RESULTS:
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) defeated Hayley Baptiste (USA) 6-7 6-1 6-1
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (-) defeated Xinyu Wang (CHN) 7-6 6-4
Marta Kostyuk (UKR) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 4-6 6-2 6-1
Heather Watson (GBR) defeated Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-7 7-5 6-4
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) defeated Rebecca Marino (CAN) 3-6 6-2 6-1
Daria Saville (AUS) defeated Greet Minnen (BEL) 7-5 6-3
Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 4-6 7-6 6-2
Anna Kalinskaya (-) defeated Robin Montgomery (USA) 4-6 6-4 7-6
Ann Li (USA) defeated Mayar Sherif (EGY) 2-6 6-3 6-4
Alison Riske (USA) defeated Jil Teichmann (SUI) 7-6 6-3
Karolina Muchova (CZE) defeated Tereza Martincova (CZE) 7-6 7-6
Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3 6-4
Anna Bondar (HUN) defeated Caroline Garcia (FRA) 7-5 RET
Vera Zvonareva (-) defeated Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-4 6-1
Kaia Kanepi (EST) defeated Maryna Zanevska (BEL) 6-2 RET
Magda Linette (POL) defeated Qinwen Zheng (CHN) 7-6 6-4
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) defeated Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-1 6-2
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated Natasja Schunk (GER) 4-6 6-3 6-1
Ekaterina Alexandrova (-) defeated Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-1 6-2
Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated Panna Udvardy (HUN) 6-4 6-3
Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) defeated Ana Konjuh (CRO) 6-3 6-4
Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) defeated Ekaterine Gorgodze (GEO) 6-2 3-6 6-3
Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) defeated Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) 7-6 6-2
Lauren Davis (USA) defeated Yue Yuan (CHN) 6-4 6-1
Clara Burel (FRA) defeated Magdalena Frech (POL) 6-3 7-5
Dalma Galfi (HUN) defeated Kristina Kucova (CZE) 6-0 6-0
Shelby Rogers (USA) defeated Amanda Anisimova (USA) 3-6 6-0 6-3
Qiang Wang (CHN) defeated Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 4-6 7-5 6-2
Shuai Zhang (CHN) defeated Clara Tauson (DEN) 6-4 4-6 2-1 RET
Madison Brengle (USA) defeated Alexandra Eala (PHI) 6-2 6-1
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) defeated Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4 4-6 6-4
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