Sabalenka puts an end to Andreeva’s career; Medvedev wins

(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 on the 14^e world ranked player Beatriz Haddad Maia in round two, then round 19^e world racket 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,” said Sabalenka. I tried to adjust to his style and rhythm in the first games of the game. 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.

Her next opponent will be Mayar Sherif, who defeated the Belgian and 24^e seeded 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.

Victory of Daniil Medvedev

On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev twice overcame a break of serve delay in the final set and eventually 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, 96.^e in the world.

Medvedev is 33-4 this season. In the next round, he will face Aslan Karatsev, who defeated the 16^e seeded 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 the bottom of 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 much 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 struggled in the first run, but eventually beat 16^e seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3. It was the first set that Swiatek lost in the tournament.

Swiatek will play his first quarter-final in Madrid against the 27^e seeded Petra Martic, who beat the 11^e seeded Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-6(1).

Swiatek is the first player to reach at least the quarter-finals in eight straight clay-court tournaments since Simona Halep, who made 10 from 2016 to 2019.

Irina-Camelia Begu surprised the 14^e seeded Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-4 to win a third time against a member of the world’s top-20 in 2023. It will be her third appearance in the quarter-finals in Madrid.

In women’s doubles, Leylah Fernandez and her American teammate Taylor Townsend defeated Yana Sizikova and Oksana Kalashnikova in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.

With Agence France-Presse