Sabalenka Progress To Quarter-Finals As Andreeva’s Dream Run Ended, Badosa Beaten
It was a breakout week for Mirra Andreeva at the Madrid Open, but a last-16 encounter with Aryna Sabalenka proved a step too far for the 16-year-old as the world No. 2 cruised through into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-1 win. In the end Sabalenka’s greater power off the ground and on serve told, and she will next play another surprise package; world No. 145 Mayar Sherif of Egypt.
Mirra Andreeva’s dream run at the Madrid Open ended as a dominant Aryna Sabalenka motored past the 16-year-old 6-3 6-1.
Andreeva had been on a remarkable 16-match unbeaten run, but Sabalenka just had too much for the teenager.
Sabalenka had sought to command proceedings from the off, firing her customarily forceful groundstrokes to land a break in the very first game.
Anything Sabalenka could do, so could Andreeva as the 16-year-old broke the Belarussian straight back.
The pair remained on serve until game six, when matters swung to and fro before Sabalenka broke again on her second break point.
Three holds followed but at 5-3 down, Andreeva just couldn’t fend off Sabalenka, hitting a double fault then seeing her opponent lash an unreturnable backhand into the far corner on her first set point.
And there were worrying signs at the start of the second as Sabalenka got on the board with a hold, before Andreeva – beginning to make one too many unforced errors – then found herself 15-40 in her first service game.
Those two break points were saved in impressive fashion, but a poor drop shot from Andreeva saw Sabalenka able to ultimately grab the game, and a chokehold on the match at one set up and 2-0.
Just 12 minutes were on the second-set clock as Sabalenka brought up 3-0 ahead of the sit-down, and Andreeva looked ponderous as to how to get back into the encounter.
She did get on the board when the action resumed, but Sabalenka was holding with ease as she showed no issues with her occasionally misfiring serve, and it was going to take something special if Andreeva was going to get back into it.
Regrettably for the teenager, it went the other way as she went break point down again in her next game. When she netted a tame slice, Sabalenka stood one game from the quarter-finals.
The world No. 2 duly brought up her first match point, and she sealed her victory as Andreeva netted her return of serve.
Reflecting on her day’s work, Sabalenka said: “It was a great match, I’m really happy with the result.
“The first few games I was just trying to adjust to her game, and after that I started to feel my game a little bit better.
“I’m just super happy with this win, especially against a young player.”
Next for Sabalenka in the quarter-finals will be Mayar Sherif. The world No. 145 who has had a stunning tournament to date, beating Caroline Garcia and Elise Mertens in the last two rounds.
ROUND-UP: HOME HOPE BADOSA BEATEN
In the day’s other matches, home favourite Paula Badosa succumbed to Maria Sakkari in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.
Sakkari will play Irina-Camelia Begu in the quarter-finals, after the Romanian defeated Liudmila Samsonova, also 6-4 6-4.
Sherif, who lives in Madrid, was the other big story of the day, getting past Mertens 6-4 0-6 6-4, despite the second-set bagel.
