History Revisited In Brisbane As Teenagers Noskova And Andreeva Clash In Quarterfinal

| by Nurein Ahmed

Quarterfinal action at the WTA Brisbane International will witness a clash of teenagers when Czech Linda Noskova faces Russia's Mirra Andreeva.

This intriguing matchup is the first all-teenage clash at a WTA 500 level even or higher since the 2009 US Open when 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki played 17-year-old American player Melanie Oudin, incidentally, also in the quarterfinal.

The age gap between Noskova and Andreeva is not too dissimilar from the last time two teenagers clashed at such a higher-level tournament. The Czech, like Wozniacki in 2009, is 19 and richly talented. But no WTA player has fast-tracked their progress into the limelight in the past year, quite like Mirra Andreeva.

The young Russian is 16 and was playing in junior tournaments at this time last year. But when you are good enough, you are old enough, and Andreeva has graduated a lot sooner than most of her contemporaries of the same age.

Sabalenka Crushes Yet Another Opponent To Clinch Brisbane Quarterfinals
Sabalenka Crushes Yet Another Opponent To Clinch Brisbane Quarterfinals

As the youngest player in the world's Top 100, she has already secured a Top 20 scalp at this week's Brisbane International, where she outplayed compatriot Liudmila Samsonova to reach the Round of 16. There, she ended the fairytale run of home wild card Arina Rodionova.

While Andreeva's path to the last eight in the season's first tournament has been seamless, Noskova has faced major obstacles and was nearly dumped out of the tournament at the first hurdle by Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos.

After saving a match point and spending over three hours on the court in her opener, the Czech youngster scored a major scalp of her own in the second round when she eliminated Top 30 player Sorana Cirstea. She played in her third successive three-setter in the third round by beating Argentina's Julia Riera.

Just like the start of 2023, Noskova has started the new year on fire, but she faces a tough test against the WTA Newcomer of the Year on Friday, in a match where she is surprisingly the underdog despite being the senior player.

Teenage Prodigy Andreeva Destroys Yet Another Opponent To Reach Brisbane Quarterfinals
Teenage Prodigy Andreeva Destroys Yet Another Opponent To Reach Brisbane Quarterfinals

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