'The most amazing year of my career' - Magdalena Frech claims first-ever WTA Tour title at Guadalajara Open
Published 16/09/2024 at 11:14 GMT
Magdalena Frech's brilliant season continued as she earned her first-ever WTA singles title this weekend with victory at the 500-level Guadalajara Open. Describing it as "the most amazing year of my career," the Pole enjoyed a breakthrough fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open in January and has continued a steady rise up the rankings, now making her debut in the top 40 in the world.
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"The most amazing year" of her career continued this weekend for Poland's Magdalena Frech, as she triumphed at the Guadalajara Open to achieve her first WTA Tour singles title.
Previously the world No. 43, she will now rise into the top 40 for the first time following the biggest success of her career so far.
Frech has enjoyed a consistent rise up the rankings this season, making the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and reaching her first tour-level singles final in Prague in July, when she lost a historic all-Polish final to compatriot Magda Linette.
"Australian Open fourth round, the final in Prague, and the title here, it's the most amazing year of my career for sure," Frech said after lifting the trophy. "I'm super proud about my achievements this year, it's really amazing.
"Hard work from the previous years is paying off right now, and I'm so glad about this. I will try to keep this momentum going."
Frech surprised some viewers at the Australian Open by earning her first top-20 win, over 16th seed Caroline Garcia, en route to the fourth round, with many expecting Iga Swiatek to be the Polish player making a deep run at the tournament.
But Swiatek suffered a third-round exit and Frech's strong season continued after Melbourne, including a subsequent fourth-round appearance at the WTA 1000 Dubai Championships and quarter-finals on grass, clay, and hard courts this summer.
Seeded fifth in Guadalajara, Frech needed just shy of two hours to see off qualifier Olivia Gadecki 7-6(5) 6-4 in the final on Sunday.
The Australian had never made a WTA level singles quarter-final before this week, but she went toe-to-toe with Frech in the first set. Neither player was able to earn the breakthrough, but it was the Pole who eventually prevailed following a tight tie-break.
Gadecki seized control of the second set with an early break but could not capitalise on her lead, with Frech getting back on level terms at 2-2 and snatching the crucial break at 5-3.
Nerves were evident as Frech could not then serve it out, but she recovered from the setback - and seeing a match point go begging - to earn three championship points on Gadecki's serve and seal her maiden title on her second match point.
"Everything was going so fast for me," Frech said afterwards. "Actually, when I lost this game [at 5-3, with the first match point], I said to myself, 'It's now or never, it's your chance to win this match in two sets,' and it's going to be always tougher because she was playing really, really well."
The victory means Frech has become the fourth Polish woman to win a singles title this century, after 20-time title-winner Agnieszka Radwanska, Prague champion Linette, and current world No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek.
Now ranked 32nd in the world, Frech has also displaced Linette as the Polish No. 2.
Mexico has become something of a happy hunting ground for Frech this year. The 500-level tournament in Guadalajara was her first semi-final and final on hard courts, with her run to the title coming after she earned a first quarter-final spot on the surface in Monterrey, also in Mexico, last week.
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