(Madrid) Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva’s dream run at the Madrid Open came to an end on Monday following a loss to second seed Aryna Sabalenka.
After three straight victories against members of the world’s top-40 in her WTA main draw debut, the 16-year-old guest was unable to defeat Sabalenka in the fourth round. The Belarus won 6-3, 6-1 on center court in the Spanish capital.
Andreeva became the youngest player to reach the round of 16 of a WTA 1000 tournament after upsetting Quebecer Leylah Fernandez in the first round, 14th-ranked player in the world Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round, then 19th-ranked in the world Magda Linette in the third round. She had won her last 16 matches at all levels before losing to Sabalenka, her first rival in the world top 10.
“It was a good game and I’m happy with the result,” Sabalenka said. I tried to adjust to his style and his rhythm in the first games of the meeting. After that, I was able to impose myself a little more. »
Sabalenka, winner of the Australian Open and champion in Madrid in 2021, reached the quarter-finals for the second time in her career in Madrid. She has at least reached that milestone in each of the seven tournaments she has entered in 2023 and is 26-4 this year.
His next opponent will be Mayar Sherif, who defeated 24th-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in a nearly three-hour duel. Sherif became the first Egyptian to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament.
On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev twice overcame a service break in the final set and finally reached the round of 16 with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over his compatriot Russian Alexander Shevchenko.
“He played well. He’s young and I’m sure he’ll go up the rankings, especially if he continues to play like he did here,” Medvedev said of Shevchenko, ranked 96th in the world.
Medvedev is 33-4 this season. In the next round, he will face Aslan Karatsev, who defeated 16th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Shevchenko, 22, appeared to be cramping late in the game. He took a 5-1 lead in the first set, but trailed 5-0 in the second. He then squandered a 2-0, 4-2 lead in the deciding set.
“I think I played pretty well in the second and third sets, and maybe late in the first set,” said Medvedev, ranked third in the world. For some reason, I have a hard time starting matches on clay. I need more time to get used to everything that happens on the pitch.
“In the third set, I could have done better in the important moments. In fact, I should have done a lot better. But I won and that’s what counts. »
This is the first time that Medvedev has won two games in a row in Madrid.
American ninth seed Frances Tiafoe lost 6-1, 7-6 (2) to Pedro Cachin, while Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-3 .
World queen Iga Swiatek will later face 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.
Irina-Camelia Begu upset 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-4 to win a third time against a member of the world’s top-20 in 2023. She will be making her third appearance in the quarter-finals at Madrid.