Czech Teen Linda Fruhvirtova claims maiden WTA Tour crown at the Chennai Open 2022

Linda Fruhvirtova pulled off a comeback win over no.3 seed Magda Linette to lift her first WTA Tour singles title at the Chennai Open. The 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova won the last five games of the deciding set to capture her maiden WTA Tour crown, beating Magda Linette of Poland in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to complete her breakthrough week on Sunday. Fruhvirtova was down 4-1 in the third set, but raised her levels and produced an excellent battle to secure a remarkable win.

Czech teenager Fruhvirtova took two hours and 30 minutes to earn the come-from-behind win over Linette, a two-time singles titlist on tour. Fruhvirtova avenged a loss to Linette in their only prior meeting, at Cleveland last year. At 17 years and 141 days old, Fruhvirtova is the youngest titlist of the season on the WTA Tour so far. She is the youngest singles champion on tour since Coco Gauff won Parma last year at 17 years and 70 days old.

The 30-year-old Linette was the early leader, breaking for 5-4 in the first set with a forehand winner off of a drop shot. Ahead for the first time all day, she then ran with that opportunity, holding serve at love to take a one-set lead.

But Fruhvirtova eventually produced a good fight to turn the match around, earning her first break of the match for a 5-3 lead in the second set. The Czech player leveled the match by consolidating in the next game. She continued with the momentum to close out the set where she never faced a break point.

Linette got her first break of the decider set with a forehand winner. She played with confidence to take a 3-1 lead and appeared to be in complete control after making it 4-1. However, Fruhvirtova used her powerful hitting to pull back on serve at 4-3, and the Czech teen moved ahead by a break at 5-4 with a sterling return. Fruhvirtova never gave away that advantage and converted her first championship point in the following game to clinch her first singles title.

After her stirring victory, Fruhvirtova said it is something she will remember forever. The Czech player feels like it is a great start for her and will work hard to keep building on this.

In the doubles final, No.1 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani defeated Anna Blinkova and Natela Dzalamidze 6-1, 6-2 in just 58 minutes to clinch the title.