Chennai Open: Fruhvirtova outlasts Podoroska

The 17-year-old keeps her nerve to prevail in a two-hour 53-minute humdinger

Linda Fruhvirtova’s teenaged promise was in full bloom in front of a vociferous crowd at the SDAT Tennis Stadium on Saturday as she beat Nadia Podoroska 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to enter her maiden WTA Tour-level final.

In a nerveless third-set display, she battled from a break down to edge the two-hour 53-minute contest that is now sure to fetch her a spot in the top-100 for the first time.

“It was the best atmosphere I have ever played in,” said the 17-year-old. “Respect to her [Podoroska]. She played amazing. I never thought I would win a three-setter against her. She made me go over my limits.”

Fruhvirtova will face Magda Linette in the final after the Pole’s opponent Katie Swan of Great Britain withdrew from her semifinal while being 0-3 down in the first set. Swan pulled out owing to illness.

The start of the evening was marked by some frighteningly good tennis. Fruhvirtova’s power stood out, especially from the backhand wing, as she clobbered balls when allowed time and space.

It forced Podoroska, who largely plays percentage tennis and pulls the trigger only when the kill is assured, to up her game. The Argentine used the short angles well and denied Fruhvirtova the chance to dictate from the middle of the court. The Czech had to hit on the run and off-balance, resulting in a fair share of errors.

Podoroska broke in the fifth and seventh games to have two looks at the first set. But just like it had in her quarterfinal against Eugenie Bouchard, a medical time-out for her opponent (exhaustion) threw her off and the score was soon 5-5.