Madrid Open | Teen Mira Andreeva continues to surprise Daniil Medvedev in the third round

(Madrid) Russian teen Mira Andreeva found the perfect way to celebrate her 16th birthday^H birthday ; She continued her unexpected achievement at the Madrid Open tennis tournament with a consecutive victory over Poland’s Magda Linette on Saturday.

Andreeva raised her arms after winning a long rally that ended with a fourth break of serve that secured the decisive point in her 6-3 6-3 win.

Linnet, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open tennis tournament, became the latest victim of the rising young Russian.

Earlier this week, still just 15, Andreeva stunned 2021 US Open runner-up Laila Fernandez of Quebec to become the third-youngest player to win a main-draw match at the WTA 1000 tournament.

She followed that up by defeating Beatrice Haddad Maya, 14^H World Player, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Next challenge? None less than the world’s second seed, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16.

“I didn’t expect to be here and play Sabalenka in the round of 16,” Andreeva admitted.

“I’m not really surprised by my level (playing) because I know I can play on the field. But of course, I didn’t expect to be here and get this far.”

Earlier on Saturday, Sabalenka opened her tournament with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Camila Osorio.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion last January, is trying to win the Madrid Open for the second time after her three-set victory over Australian Ashleigh Barty in 2021.

Sabalenka dominated most of the encounter, except for a slump in her match after Osorio called for a medical break as the Colombian went down 1-4 in the second set.

Sabalenka struggled with her serve but managed to pull herself together and win the match.

Later on Saturday, Spain’s Paula Badosa gave her fans what they were hoping for, a win, when she upset American sixth seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-0.

Romanian Irina Camelia Begu, Belgian Elise Mertens and Russian Lyudmila Samsonova also won their matches respectively on Saturday.

For her part, French fifth seed Caroline Garcia was defeated by Egyptian Mayar Sherif, who had the upper hand 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Successful return to Medvedev

On the men’s side, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italian Andrea Vavassori in his first match at the tournament.

Ranked second and third in the ATP rankings, Medvedev dominated the men’s circuit in 2023 with four titles, all won on hard courts. He has posted an overall record of 32-4 since the start of the season.

Medvedev is considered the main competitor to defeat the defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had to fight hard on Friday to win his first tournament match, in three sets against Emil Rossovori.

However, Medvedev balances his expectations, as he understands that clay is not his preferred surface.

“As always, I will do my best,” said Medvedev. “Today I felt very good on the court, and in the rallies I was in control which is very important on clay.”

Rank 164^H At the Worlds, Vavassori stunned Britain’s Andy Murray in the previous round.

The Italian produced quality play early in the match and forced Medvedev to save three break points. However, the former US Open champion dominated the encounter by breaking through his opponent’s last game in the opening set.

The duel was briefly interrupted by heavy rain, which was welcomed in Madrid which, like other cities in Spain, was mired in a deep drought.

In the next round, Medvedev will face qualifier Alexander Shevchenko, who knocked out Jiri Lechka 6-1, 6-1.

Greek and fourth Stefanos Tsitsipas came from behind to defeat Dominic Thiem 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).

Tsitsipas hit 39 consecutive first serves from late in the first set until the beginning of the third, according to the Professional Players Association.

In addition, two American directors were featured in the second round. Ben Shelton, 38^H In the world, he lost for the first time in three sets against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff (65^H), 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. Later, Tommy Ball (17^H) lost in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(3) against 112th-ranked Russian Saviolin^H in ATP.

Two other Americans, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, had more success and reached the next round, as well as Australian Alex de Minaur.