Who is Brenda Fruhvirtova? Meet the 16-year-old facing Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 Australian Open

Youth is served at the 2024 Australian Open as a trio of 16-year-olds have notched victories in women’s singles: Mirra Andreeva, Alina Korneeva, and Brenda Fruhvirtova.

Until now, Fruhvirtova has largely been in the shadow of elder sister Linda, who last year surged into the second week in Melbourne as a 17-year-old. But after winning her first Grand Slam main draw match, it is Brenda’s turn in the spotlight when she headlines Wednesday’s night session in a Rod Laver Arena clash against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Get to know the talented Czech teen before she takes on the world No. 2.

The Bio

• DOB: April 2, 2007
• Birthplace: Prague, Czech Republic
• Height: 5’7” (1.7 m)
• Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
• Career-high rank: No. 107
• Coach: Nicolas Massu

The Basics

Along with Linda, Brenda first honed her game as a 10-year-old at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy. A year later, she won the prestigious Eddie Herr International Junior in the U12 division.

Though her junior career was largely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, she made up for lost time on the ITF Pro Circuit, on which she won a whopping eight titles in 2022 alone. She made a historic Grand Slam qualifying berth the following year, becoming the fifth youngest in Australian Open history.

Another seven ITF Pro Circuit titles brought her to the brink of a Top 100 debut as she kicked off the 2024 season with new coach Nicolas Massu.

"I feel like he has a good feeling for what to tell the player,” she told *WTA Insider* of the 2004 Olympic champion and longtime coach of Dominic Thiem. Even though we're just one month together, I feel like he knows me very well, and he knows what I need and what he needs to tell me and when."

This Week

Her latest career-high ranking came after a successful week at the ASB Classic, where she qualified for the main draw and played a tough opening set against eventual champion Coco Gauff in the round of 16.

Back in Australian Open qualifying, she won three matches as the No. 10 seed to reach the main draw, where she scored her first win in three sets over Ana Bogdan.

Her encounter against the No. 2-seeded Sabalenka will be just her third against a Top 10 player. Tentatively projected to make a Top 100 debut regardless of the result, can the teenager compensate for a relative lack of firepower with anticipation and a bourgeoning all-court game?

Fans will have a chance to find out on Wednesday at 7PM local time.