2023-04-27 21:47:44
Russian 15-year-old Mirra Andreeva’s stunning run at the Madrid Open continued with a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 win over world number 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Andreeva, given a wildcard for the clay event, became the seventh-youngest player since 2000 to beat a top-20 ranked opponent before the age of 16.
Her win over Brazil’s Haddad Maia came 24 hours following she beat 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in round one.
Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka and American Coco Gauff also won.
Australian Open champion Sabalenka bounced back from losing to Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek in the Stuttgart final last weekend with a 6-4 6-3 victory once morest Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.
Sixth seed Gauff, 19, needed only one hour and 17 minutes to beat Spain’s Irene Burillo Escorihuela 6-4 6-1 and will play Paula Badosa – another Spaniard – in the third round.
Gauff, who also burst on to the WTA Tour as a 15-year-old in 2019, was the last player before Andreeva to beat a member of the top 20 while aged under 16.
Following her impressive back-to-back wins, Andreeva will face Poland’s 17th seed Magda Linette – a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January – in the last 32.
“I’m a bit surprised to be in the third round but also everyone was telling me they are playing the same level as you, they are just more consistent,” said 194th-ranked Andreeva.
“Their mental level is different but the game-level is almost the same.”
Former world number two Badosa was hampered by a leg injury once morest Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto but dug deep to win 6-3 4-6 6-4 in a match lasting two hours and 30 minutes.
Germany’s Jules Niemeier caused an upset as she beat Czech 10th seed Petra Kvitova – a three-time champion in Madrid – while French fifth seed Caroline Garcia won 6-3 6-4 once morest Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
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