Andreeva beats Alexandrova to set up China Open semi-final with Bartunkova
Fourth seed Mirra Andreeva beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in Beijing on Thursday to reach her first China Open semi-final. The Andreeva Alexandrova China Open semi-final berth is also Andreeva’s first win over her fellow Russian, sealed in two fiercely contested tie-breaks.
The 19-year-old French Open champion will face Czech 26th seed Nikola Bartunkova in the last four, after Bartunkova swept past Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0.
Andreeva Alexandrova China Open semi-final: how it was won
Neither set gave an inch. Andreeva took the first tie-break 7-4, then recovered from a wobble in the second, where she led 5-2 before Alexandrova fought back to force another tie-break. Andreeva held her nerve to take it 7-3 and close out the match.
“Even when I had an advantage in the second set leading 5-2, I felt like she was still pressuring me,” Andreeva said. “But what a match this was. I’m super happy with how it went. She played unbelievable today, and I’m very happy to get my very first win against her.”
The win underlines Andreeva’s growing authority in the biggest events. At 19, with a French Open title already to her name, she is playing the kind of composed, clutch tennis that separates contenders from the rest of the field.
Bartunkova’s breakthrough week
Standing in her way is one of the stories of the tournament. Bartunkova stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the last 32, then dismantled Muchova to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final. The Czech is assured of a top-30 debut when the new rankings are published after the tournament.
It is a semi-final between the established teenage star and the breakthrough challenger, and on current form it promises to be the match of the tournament so far.
The Beijing event is one of the premier stops on the Asian swing, a WTA 1000 tournament that regularly decides the late-season rankings race. Andreeva arrived as the fourth seed and the French Open champion, carrying the weight of expectation that follows a 19-year-old with a Grand Slam title. She has handled it with the steadiness of a veteran, dropping no panic through two tie-breaks against an opponent she had never beaten.
For Alexandrova, the defeat is a bitter one. She pushed the favourite to the limit in both sets and had the second set tie-break in her sights after clawing back from 2-5. But Andreeva’s composure in the decisive moments, the same quality that carried her to the Roland-Garros title, proved the difference once again.
FAQ
What was the score between Andreeva and Alexandrova?
Mirra Andreeva beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in the China Open quarter-final in Beijing.
Who does Andreeva play in the semi-final?
Czech 26th seed Nikola Bartunkova, who beat Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0.
What is at stake for Bartunkova?
A first WTA 1000 final, and a guaranteed top-30 debut in the rankings after the tournament. She has already beaten world number one Aryna Sabalenka this week.
Has Andreeva reached the Beijing semi-final before?
No. This is her first China Open semi-final and her first win over Alexandrova.
