Mirra Andreeva reaches Madrid Open final as champion Casper Ruud exits
Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 19th birthday by making history at the Madrid Open, while defending men’s champion Casper Ruud suffered a shock quarter-final defeat.
The ninth seed defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 7-6 (10-8) to become the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals.
Baptiste had previously stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals, but found her giant-killing run abruptly halted in the Spanish capital.
The Russian teenager dominated the opening exchanges, winning every point behind her first serve to claim the first set.
A tense finish in the Spanish capital
She continued that relentless serving rhythm to build a commanding 5-3 lead in the second set, before a late resurgence from her American opponent.
Baptiste valiantly saved a match point and broke back, eventually forcing a tense tie-break where she held two set points.
However, the birthday girl held her nerve to erase the deficit and convert her third match point.
“I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I’m still nervous,” Andreeva said.
“I’m so happy that I won and I was able to save all those set points. I was very happy with the way I was able to serve. I cannot find a lot of words to describe how I am feeling right now.”
Ruud title defence ends in ‘depressing’ fashion
In the men’s draw, defending champion Ruud saw his reign ended by rising 21-year-old star Alexander Blockx.
The Belgian delivered a composed display to win 6-4 6-4 and secure his first career Masters 1000 semi-final.
Prior to reaching the third round at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month, the world number 69 had never won an ATP Tour match on clay.
“To be honest, I’m just happy with being here. Even winning my first match here. I barely escaped in the first round, and I was happy about that already,” Blockx said.
“Semi-finals is something I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with.”
As a result of the early exit, the 12th seed will now drop out of the world’s top 20 for the first time in nearly five years.
The Norwegian admitted the defeat was incredibly difficult to process.
“I found it depressing this game, because he didn’t really have any weaknesses,” he explained.
“I was impressed because I didn’t really find any big weakness or hole in his game. And when you don’t do that, it’s easier to kind of over-hit and feel like you don’t get anything out of your own shots.”
What next for the teenage sensation?
With 12 victories on clay already this season, the 19-year-old finalist is cementing her status as a formidable force on the surface.
She will face either 26th seed Marta Kostyuk or lucky loser Anastasia Potapova in the showpiece event.
