Russian teen Andreeva continues breakout at Madrid Open Tennis News
Russian teenager Mira Andreeva found the perfect way to celebrate her 16th birthday by continuing her breakout performance at the Madrid Open with a two-set win over Magda Linett on Saturday.
Andreeva raised her arms after winning a long exchange that ended with her breaking Linnet’s serve for the fourth time to secure a deciding point in her 6–3, 6–3 victory.
Linett, an Australian Open semifinalist, became the latest player to be upset by Andreeva’s uppercut.
Earlier this week, 15-year-old Andreeva stunned 2021 US Open finalist Leyla Fernandez to become the third youngest player to win a main draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament. She then defeated 14th ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia.
His next challenge? No less than world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16.
“I didn’t expect to be here and play against Sabalenka in the round of 16,” Andreeva said. “I’m not really surprised by my level, because I know how I can play on the court. But I certainly didn’t expect to come here and go this far.”
In the men’s draw, second seed Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round after defeating qualifier Andrea Vavassori of Russia 6–4, 6–3 in his tournament opener.
Third-ranked Medvedev leads the men’s circuit with four titles this season, all on hard courts. He is 32-4 on the year.
Medvedev is tipped to be the top challenger for defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who bounced back to beat Emil Rusuvuori in three sets in his opener on Friday.
However, Medvedev said he was keeping his hopes up as the surface was not his best.
Medvedev said, ‘I will try to give my best as always. “Today, I felt great on the court, and I had control on the rallies and that’s very important on clay.”
Vavassori, ranked 164, had beaten two-time Madrid winner Andy Murray in the previous round.
The Italian played well early on and forced Medvedev to save three break points. But the former US Open winner took control by breaking Vavassori in her last service game of the first set.
Medvedev will next face qualifier Alexander Shevchenko, who beat Jiri Leheka 6-1, 6-1.
The match was stopped briefly for a rain shower, which was well received in Madrid, which like the rest of Spain is experiencing a prolonged drought.
Dusan Lajovic needed six match points to beat ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2 3-6 7-6(5) and improve his career record against the Canadian to 3-0.
It was his third consecutive victory over top-10 opponents, defeating top-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 6 Andrey Rublev on his way to winning the Banja Luka title last week.
Auger-Aliassime, who hit 12 aces and 11 double faults, saved two match points in her final service game in the third set, and saved another three match points in the tiebreaker before Lajovic hit a decisive forehand winner.
“It was very tight at the end,” Lajovich said. “Winning 7-6 in the third is really good for my confidence.”
Lajovic will next face Jan-Lennard Struff after the German beat American Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5.
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Dominic Thiem 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5). According to the ATP, Tsitsipas served 39 straight serves in the first set from the end of the first set to the beginning of the third.
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, seeded eighth and ninth respectively, also advanced alongside Alex de Minaur.
Sabalenka beat Camila Osorio 6-4, 7-5 as the Australian Open champion looked to reclaim the Madrid title she won in 2021.
Home favorite Paula Badosa gave the locals what they wanted, defeating sixth seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-0.
Jelena Ostapenko was defeated by Lyudmila Samsonova, who recorded a 6–2, 6–0 win over the former French Open winner.
Irina-Camilia Begu and Elise Mertens were also winners.
