Australian Open: Brenda Fruhvirtova wins her first Major match

The 16-year-old qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova claimed her first Major victory at the Australian Open, ousting Ana Bogdan 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes on Court 17. Brenda overcame a slow start and a medical timeout, beating her rival with a reliable performance in sets two and three and moving into the second round. The Czech played better behind the first serve, and the Romanian responded behind the second. Both players grabbed four breaks of serve, and Fruhvirtova prevailed with back-to-back ones in the decider. Bogdan served well in the opener and kept the pressure on the young gun, breaking her two times for a reliable start. A teenager struggled in the encounter’s third game, facing four break points and landing a forehand wide on the last to drop serve and fall 2-1 behind. Ana held at love in the next one with a service winner, cementing the advantage and opening a 3-1 gap. Fruhvirtova played a terrible backhand in the fifth game, experiencing another break and falling 4-1 behind.

Brenda Fruhvirtova defeated Ana Bogdan in three sets at the Australian Open.

Bogdan moved 5-1 up with a backhand winner in game six and served for the opener at 5-2. The more experienced player held at 15 with a service winner, securing the opener 6-2 in 41 minutes. Fruhvirtova pushed strong on the return in the second set’s second game, seizing the fourth break point and moving 2-0 in front. The young gun netted a forehand in the third game, losing serve and bringing her opponent back to the positive side. They served well in the following five games before Brenda faced a break point at 4-4, moving closer to the exit door.

Brenda Fruhvirtova, Australian Open 2024© Morgan Hancock / Stringer – Getty Images Sport

However, Ana sprayed a forehand error and allowed Brenda to bring the game home with a forehand winner. Fruhvirtova attacked on the return at 5-4, forcing Bogdan’s mistake and delivering a crucial break after 50 minutes. The young gun survived break chances at the beginning of the final set and broke at 15 at 2-1 with an aggressive return. Brenda held for 4-1 and grabbed another break in the next one after Ana’s loose drop shot. The youngster served for the victory at 5-1 and suffered a break at 15, keeping her rival in contention. Bogdan had to dig deep on serve in the eighth game, facing four match points and saving them to prolong the battle and reduce the deficit. Fruhvirtova served for the victory at 5-3 and landed a forehand winner for a match point. The 16-year-old seized it after the rival’s backhand error, celebrating her first Major victory.