Polish tennis stars Magda Linette and Magdalena Frech faced a major hurdle on the eve of the Paris Olympics when the closure of French airspace threatened to derail their travel plans. The duo had just made history by contesting the first all-Polish WTA singles final in the Open Era at the Livesport Prague Open, with Linette emerging victorious.
However, their Olympic dreams were put in jeopardy due to the late start of their Prague final and the subsequent airspace closure. With no flights available, Linette and Frech appealed to the public for help via social media.
Their plea was answered by Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska, CEO of InPost. Brzoska offered to assist the players, and within hours, Linette announced that they were on their way to the Olympics.
Linette expressed her gratitude to Brzoska, calling him their “life saver.” She also shared a photo of herself on his plane, acknowledging that “angels” exist and that they are named Rafal.
Despite the travel scare, Linette and Frech’s success in Prague had already ensured that they would miss the official commencement of the Games, where iconic singer Céline Dion was scheduled to perform. Linette expressed her disappointment, having missed previous opportunities to see Dion live.
However, the players remain focused on their Olympic goals. Linette is set to face Roland Garros semifinalist Mirra Andreeva in the first round of singles, while Frech will take on Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria. Linette will also team up with Alicja Rosolska in doubles against the Ukrainian duo of Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk.
Despite the challenges they faced, Linette and Frech are determined to make the most of their Olympic experience. Linette, who has gone 0-3 in her previous Olympic appearances, is hoping to secure her first win at the age of 32.
