CHARLESTON, South Carolina – Magdalena Frech of Poland advanced at the Credit One Charleston Open in Charleston, as No. 11 seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic was forced to retire from her opening match due to injury.
Frech led 7-6 (6), 3-2 when the two-time Wimbledon champ retired, reportedly due to a thigh issue. Frech led the first-set tiebreaker 6-2 but lost four straight set points, as Kvitova tied it 6-6 before the Pole finished the job.
No. 12 seed Alize Cornet of France got by American Alycia Parks 6-0, 7-5. No. 15 seed Amanda Anisimova of the US defeated countrywoman Sachia Vickery 6-0, 7-5, and 16th-seeded Shuai Zhang of China was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over American Francesca Di Lorenzo.
Other winners in Charleston included Ukrainians Anhelina Kalinina and Katarina Zavatska, Italian Jasmine Paolini, American Claire Liu, Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, Hungary’s Anna Bondar, Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic and Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway.
Two more matches were scheduled for Monday evening, pitting Shelby Rogers of the US against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and Xinyu Wang of China against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.
Defending champion Veronika Kudermetova of Russia withdrew before the tournament began due to illness.
From hard courts to clay, it didn’t take long for Fruhvirtova to back up her breakthrough Miami Open run with another victory. The 16-year-old sensation is off and running at the Credit One Charleston Open after a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win against Ana Konjuh.
Fruhvirtova came from a set down to christen the tournament’s new stadium court with a 1 hour, 49-minute victory, which was also her first professional win against a player from Croatia.
“It was important for me to forget the first set, keep fighting, keep trying to find a way to win, and I’m glad I found a way,” Fruhvirtova said.
“The green clay is very specific and I think the transition is easier from hard court to green clay than straight to red clay. I think the surface fits me and I like to play on green clay.”
While it is Fruhvirtova’s tournament debut at the WTA 500 event, it’s not her first time at this storied venue. Last year, at 15, Fruhvirtova made her first tour-level quarterfinal at the MUSC Health Women’s Open, a WTA 250 event held on Daniel Island on a one-year license.
Her win against Konjuh is her fifth career win against a Top 100 player, and puts her into a second round meeting against either No.10 seed Belinda Bencic or China’s Wang Xiyu.
“These are the matches and the moments I’ve always worked hard for, and it’s a great motivation to keep working hard and believing, and I’m enjoying it,” she said.
“I’m really honored that I got to play the first match here in this beautiful stadium in this beautiful city. It’s a very special place for me, and I’m so happy to get this opportunity.”
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