Brenda Fruhvirtova, Bejlek into final Australian Open qualifying round

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Youth took centre stage on Day 2 of Australian Open qualifying as seven teenagers won through to the final round.

Brenda Fruhvirtova, 15, was the youngest of them, and the one who pulled off the most remarkable victory. Fruhvirtova trailed Daria Snigur

by a set and 5-1, and was two points from defeat on four occasions, but essayed a unlikely turnaround to emerge a 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3 victor after 2 hours and 14 minutes.

The No.135-ranked Czech, whose 17-year-old sister Linda has direct entry to the main draw, only played her first pro match 13 months ago. But she has started her career with a 53-10 record, including eight ITF W25 titles, so far. With her back to the wall, she demonstrated a determined tenacity, locking down her game and refusing to miss. Snigur, whose idiosyncratic flat strokes had been in full command, found herself unable to hit through the youngster and saw victory dissipate amidst a flurry of netted drive volleys.

This Daria Snigur

View Profile 🇺🇦 and Brenda Fruhvirtova 🇨🇿 match has had just about everything!

Breaks galore, a tie break, medical time outs, brilliant rallies, wicked momentum swings... and finally a winner.

15-year-old Fruhvirtova through in three, 5-7 7-6(3) 6-3#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/5UtT8UQlkP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2023

Fruhvirtova was joined by compatriot Sara Bejlek

, 16, who notched the first Top 100 victory of her career with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 upset of No.1 seed . The speedy Bejlek also outran a more powerful opponent: she found only two winners to the American's 35, but against that committed 14 unforced errors against Parks' 70, and just one in the third set. The No.175-ranked Bejlek is seeking to qualify for a second successive major, having made her tour-level debut at the US Open last year.

Why we should expect a big rise from Sara Bejlek

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Bejlek will play another teenager, 18-year-old Erika Andreeva

. No.29-seeded Andreeva overcame 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Fruhvirtova will next face , who made a winning tour-level debut as a United Cup substitute last week and has continued that form in Melbourne.

Get to know Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva

View Profile , Andorra's teenage trailblazer

Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva

, 17, had a smoother time in reaching the final qualifying round of a major for the second time. The 2020 Australian Open junior champion, the Andorran needed only 63 minutes to dispatch Zoe Hives 6-1, 6-1. Jimenez Kasintseva will face No.22 seed , the fast-rising German 20-year-old who beat Alexandra Cadantu-Ignatik 6-4, 6-1.

Strong support system helping Eva Lys

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Diana Shnaider

, 18, is making her major qualifying debut, but is already seeded No.8 after a phenomenal late-season surge in 2022. The three-time junior Grand Slam doubles champion was outside the Top 200 at the start of October, but has rocketed to a career-high of No.105 this week after winning 20 of her last 25 matches. That included her first WTA 125 title in Montevideo in November. Shnaider took out fellow 18-year-old 6-4, 6-4 to advance.

Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva

View Profile is making waves 🌊🇦🇩

The 17-year-old and 2020 #AusOpen girls' singles champion progresses to the final round of qualifying 💪#AO2023 pic.twitter.com/8HeC0gYg2L
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2023

The two remaining teenagers to reach the final qualifying round are 19-year-olds Oksana Selekhmeteva

, who defeated No.24 seed 6-1, 7-5; and , younger sister of World No.9 Veronika, who raced past No.30 seed 6-1, 6-3. No.182-ranked Kudermetova is making her Grand Slam qualifying debut.

Elsewhere, two former Top 10 players navigated tough opponents successfully. Kristina Mladenovic

survived a rollercoaster ride to beat No.18 seed 6-2, 6-7(8), 7-5, needing six match points to close out the Spaniard after squandering two in the second set. Meanwhile, 2017 semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe defeated 2022 junior champion 6-4, 6-2.

Eva Lys

View Profile 🇩🇪 is through to the final round of qualifying, beating Alexandra Cadanțu-Ignatik 6-4 6-1

Fun fact: it's Eva's 21st birthday tomorrow!#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/q6YYS8a9xB
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2023

Other former Top 100 players to advance included No.2 seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova

6-1 6-1 over and Lausanne finalist 6-3, 6-1 over .

2023 Australian Open final qualifying round
Sara Bejlek

View Profile (CZE) vs. [29] Erika Andreeva

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Katherine Sebov

View Profile (CAN) vs. [20] Simona Waltert

View Profile (SUI)
[3] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova

View Profile (SVK) vs. [21] Elizabeth Mandlik

View Profile (USA)
[4] Cristina Bucsa

View Profile (ESP) vs. [32] Nao Hibino

View Profile (JPN)
Sachia Vickery (USA) vs. Lucrezia Stefanini

View Profile (ITA)
Sophie Chang

View Profile (USA) vs. Oksana Selekhmeteva

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Yuriko Miyazaki (GBR) vs. [23] CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)
[8] Diana Shnaider

View Profile vs. Anastasia Tikhonova
[9] Leolia Jeanjean

View Profile (FRA) vs. [31] Lesia Tsurenko

View Profile (UKR)
Olga Danilovic

View Profile (SRB) vs. [17] Clara Burel

View Profile (FRA)
[11] Katie Volynets

View Profile (USA) vs. Kristina Mladenovic

View Profile (FRA)
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

View Profile (ESP) vs. [27] Brenda Fruhvirtova (CZE)
Selena Janicijevic

View Profile (FRA) vs. [26] Jodie Burrage

View Profile (GBR)
[14] Laura Pigossi

View Profile (BRA) vs. Arianne Hartono

View Profile (NED)
Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva

View Profile (AND) vs. [22] Eva Lys

View Profile (GER)
Asia Muhammad (USA) vs. Polina Kudermetova

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WTA Staff