Czech teens Noskova, Havlickova make a splash at WTA Prague Open

With the U.S. summer hardcourt swing still to kickstart, things are still relatively low-key on the WTA front with two WTA 250s this week – one in Warsaw and the other in Prague.

But on Tuesday, two Czech teens, who between them have claimed the last two Roland-Garros junior girls titles, created a splash by winning their first round matches in front of their home fans.

Linda Noskova, the 2021 French Open junior girls champion who is already ranked No 112 in the world, advanced to the second round when Russian lucky loser Natalia Vikhlyantseva retired while trailing 6-2, 3-1.

Noskova made her Grand Slam main draw debut earlier this year at the 2022 French Open as a qualifier, making her the youngest Czech to play in the main draw of a Major since her countrywoman Nicole Vaidisova at the 2006 US Open.

Noskova’s reward is a clash against fifth seed and French veteran Alize Cornet, who scored a 6-2, 6-3 win over another Russian qualifier  Anastasia Zakharova.

Havlickova joins Noskova in Prague second round

Joining Noskova soon in the second round was another 17-year-old, Lucie Havlickova, who won the junior singles and doubles title at Roland-Garros earlier this year.

Havlickova, ranked No 2 in the juniors and No 787 among the pros, put in an impressive display to Czech qualifier Barbora Palicova 6-2, 7-6 and will get a chance to test herself against top seed and world No 2 Anett Kontaveit.

The Estonian, who reached the final in Hamburg last week, was an easy 6-0, 6-1 winner over Ektaerina Gorgodze.

While the days of teenaged Grand Slam winners and world No 1s may be over, tennis fans will surely be watching these two young Czech talents closely as they make their way up the pro ranks in the coming months.

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