Freakish stat emerges after 16-year-olds Brenda Fruhvirtova and Alina Korneeva reach second round
Sixteen-year-olds Brenda Fruhvirtova and Alina Korneeva have reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time in their careers as they battled to three-set victories at the Australian Open on Sunday.
Czech youngster Fruhvirtova, playing in her third Grand Slam main draw, defeated Ana Bogdan 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win her first-ever match at a major.
Aged 16 years, nine months and 12 days, the world No 107 became the youngest player since Coco Gauff in 2020 to win a main draw match at the Australian Open. Gauff was 19 years, 10 months, 10 days when she beat Naomi Osaka in Melbourne four years ago.
But Fruhvirtova’s record didn’t last very long as main draw debutant Korneeva (16 years, six months and 22 days) also came from a set down to defeat Sara Sorribes Tormo from Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Yet that is not the most incredible stat from the teenagers’ victories as it is the first time since 2007 – the year the pair was born – that two 16-year-olds have won first-round matches at a Grand Slam.
As per Opta Ace, 16-year-olds Caroline Wozniacki – who went on to become the world No 1 – and Tamira Paszek achieved the feat at Wimbledon in 2007 – shortly after Fruhvirtova and Korneeva were born.
2007 – With Brenda Fruhvirtova and Alina Korneeva now both claiming wins, it is the first time two 16-year-olds have won in a women’s singles R128 at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2007 – Caroline Wozniacki and Tamira Paszek. Future.#AusOpen | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/Hh8ElG2izX
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 14, 2024
Both youngsters have been tipped for great things as Korneeva is a two-time junior Grand Slam winner as she won both the Australian Open and French Open in 2023 – before she turned 16.
Fruhvirtova, the younger sister of fellow rising star Linda Fruhvirtova, has won 15 ITF Circuit titles since the start of the 2022 season. She became the youngest player to compete in the French Open junior girls’ event in 2020 as she was just 13 when she was awarded a wildcard.
Interestingly, Korneeva could face Linda Fruhvirtova in the second round but the 18-year-old will need to get past 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia. Brenda Fruhvirtova will take on either defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or fellow teenager Ella Seidel for a place in the third round.
Meanwhile, a third 16-year-old could join them in the third round as Mirra Andreeva – who will be 16 years, eight months and 17 days when her match takes place on Monday – takes on Bernada Perra.