8 players who have won WTA matches aged 14 or younger since 2000 ft. Maria Sharapova, Brenda Fruhvirtova and Madison Keys
At 14 years, 331 days old, Czech Republic's Brenda Fruhvirtova on Monday became the youngest player to play in a WTA main draw since Madison Keys back in April 2009.
And while the youngster went down to Sloane Stephens in the opening round of the 2022 Guadalajara Open, she definitely made a statement just putting in the work to qualify and making her debut at such a young age.
Players 14 and under have, however, had memorable wins on the WTA tour over the years and here we recount eight to have achieved the feat since 2000.
#8 Madison Keys - 2009 Ponte Vedra Beach
Madison Keys isn't only one of the youngest players to debut on the WTA tour, but she's also the seventh youngest to have walked away with a win. Playing in just her second main draw match, the American defeated World No. 81 Alla Kudryavtseva in straight sets to score a memorable win.
#7 Michelle Larcher de Brito - 2007 Miami
Prior to her famous 2013 Wimbledon win over Maria Sharapova, Michelle Larcher de Brito was best remembered for being one of the youngest winners on the WTA tour. Making her debut as an unranked 14-year-old at the 2007 Miami Open, she beat Meghann Shaughnessy for her maiden win.
#6 Tamira Paszek - 2005 Linz
Tamira Paszek's flat, pacey groundstrokes helped her attain plenty of success on fast courts over the course of her career. Her first WTA tour win came on one such indoor hardcourt. The Austrian beat Elena Vesnina in the opening round of the 2005 Linz Open. She was 14 years and 11 months old.
#5 Sesil Karatantcheva - 2004 Indian Wells
Karatantcheva is one of the few on the list who backed up her first WTA win with another, scoring consecutive upsets over Alexandra Stevenson and Magüi Serna at Indian Wells in 2004. The 14-year-old would go on to lose to fellow teenager Maria Sharapova in the third round.
#4 Alisa Kleybanova - 2004 Indian Wells
Having been awarded a wildcard into the 2004 Indian Wells Open, Alisa Kleybanova scored a rollercoaster win over Jelena Kostanic. The Russian's run came to an end in the next round, but her win in the opening match marked her breakthrough on the WTA tour.
#3 Nicole Vaidisova - 2004 Acapulco
Nicole Vaidisova lifted her first WTA crown at the 2004 Vancouver Open at the tender age of 15, completing a sensational run after coming through qualifying. Earlier that year, though, the Russian had strung together a quarter-final run in Acapulco, scoring her first couple of wins as a 14-year-old.
#2 Viktoriya Kutuzova - 2003 Los Angeles
Viktoriya Kutuzova was a sensation in her debut year in 2003. Playing in her first WTA tournament, the 14-year-old shocked top-50 players in consecutive matches to make the quarterfinals at the 2003 Los Angeles Open. The feat remains one of the most memorable of her career.
#1 Maria Sharapova - 2002 Indian Wells
Maria Sharapova's first tour-level win surely tops all the other stories. The six-time Grand Slam champion not only scored the victory on one of the biggest stages at Indian Wells, she did it on her 14th birthday. The future World No. 1 beat American Brie Rippner before going down against Monica Seles in the next round.
At 14 years, 331 days old, Brenda Fruhvirtova is the youngest player to compete in a Tour MD match since April 2009 when Madison Keys (then 14 years, 54 days old) played Ponte Vedra Beach.
Players to Win a WTA Main Draw Match at 14yo or Younger Since 2000: https://t.co/fvtNxdZNh7