Linda Fruhvirt flew fearlessly into the merry-go-round of tennis and made a great impression on world experts. The defeat in the Miami World round with the Spaniard Paula Badosa did not change anything. The 16-year-old Czech player is spoken of in foreign media in superlatives.
“Just as I was getting used to players born at the end of the last century, Linda Fruhvirt is suddenly here. Born in 2005,” said Steve Tignor, a renowned publishing expert on Tennis.com.
The performance of the 16-year-old Czech strongly impressed him. Fruhvirt received a wild card for the Florida “thousand” and from the first round she overcame one milestone after another.
First, for the first time in her career, she defeated the top 100 player, Danka Koviničová from Montenegro, then stepped on the 24th tennis player of the world, the Belgian Elisa Mertens, to escape from the court in the third state 6: 2, 3: 0 Belarusian star Victoria Azarenková.
“Maybe her opponent’s youth might have bothered her so much. Azarenka made her WTA circuit debut the same year, almost the same week Fruhvirt was born,” Tignor noted.
After a lifetime of success, the young Czech crew was caught by the staff of the Tennis Channel and seated in the studio in front of the local Hard Rock Stadium.
“I don’t know if you know, but you’re the youngest eight-finalist here in Miami since 2004. How do you feel?” asked her popular Indian moderator Prakash Amritraj.
“I don’t even know how to describe it. This is something I’ve always dreamed of. A dream has come true,” Fruhvirt replied in her confident English.
The moderator wondered what a great thing she had experienced in Miami as a newcomer to the elite scene. The tennis player did not hesitate for a long time.
“Playing against Vice was amazing. She’s one of the players I grew up with. I looked up at her and it was an honor to be with her in the same court,” she said.
Fruhvirt even reminds Tignor of Azarenka’s playroom. Especially because of the smooth and confident two-handed backhand. “Vika also knew him like a teenager, she was able to completely control the exchanges with him,” he said.
He also praised the Czech Republic for a fast forehand, a solid first service and, above all, for complete fearlessness. The same characteristics of Fruhvirt were also pointed out by her eight-final conqueror Badosa.
“Linda has a bright future ahead of her. She plays absolutely fearlessly,” said the world number six after the 6: 2, 6: 3 victory, but at least the world number three after the tournament in Miami. And Badosa has the position of the second Barbora Krejčíková within reach.
Check out the great exchange between Badosa and Fruhvirt:
The Spaniard is often referred to as the new Maria Sharapova, but comparisons with the Russian superstar do not seem to be avoided by Fruhvirt in the future. “The Czech miracle child follows in the footsteps of Sharapova,” the Essentially Sports server wrote in the headline.
In the incriminated year 2004, in Miami, a player under the age of seventeen last advanced among the top sixteen. In addition to Sharapova, Tatiana Golovin, a nine-month-younger Frenchwoman, was able to do so at the time.
By the way, Linda Fruhvirtová reminded her then coach from Sparta Prague, Daniel Filj, of the famous Russian tennis player, the winner of five grand slam tournaments, four years ago. When asked in an interview with Aktuálně.cz, which player would he compare her style to, he replied: “Maria Sharapova. That’s why I went for it.”
Fruhvirt’s foreign media also highlight her confident statements after the Miami ride.
“When I asked what my goals were, I always answered the same way. I want to be number one in the world and win grand slams. That hasn’t changed,” said the girl, who will fly almost 279 from the 279th place in the WTA rankings after Miami.
The official website of the Women’s Tennis Organization called Fruhvirt the latest product “an amazing Czech system that has produced countless champions and brought the country six Fed Cup titles in the last eleven years”.
“Eight Czech players in the top 100 may soon have company,” the server wrote, also drawing attention to Linda’s sister Brenda, who is two years younger. She is already a member of the world’s top four at the age of fourteen and can very soon embark on a similarly steep way up. Linda Fruhvirt is sure of that.
“We train together, I know how good it is. I can’t wait to play these big tournaments together. Yes, I think it will be here in a while,” Czech hope told the tennis world.
