Mirra Andreeva breaks new ground at China Open in thrilling battle versus Alexandrova

Mirra Andreeva is in the semi-finals of the China Open but did not do it the easy way. She was in command of both sets but had to settle for tiebreak success to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(4) 7-6(3).

It is a significant win for Andreeva. The highest ranked player left in the tournament, she is set to rise to World No.4 when the WTA Rankings get updated ahead of Coco Gauff. It is a fourth semi-final at WTA 1000 level, and she has a 100% win rate in them. That bodes well ahead of her tie against Aryna Sabalenka’s slayer Nikola Bartunkova later in the week.

The contrast from Andreeva’s Asian swing last year compared to now is quite stark. Preparing for a WTA Finals debut, she has only lost one set in this tournament and is putting in mature showings not correlating with her teenage status.

She showed that after Alexandrova came fighting back in the first set. From leading 3-1 to trailing 5-3, Andreeva battled back to force a tiebreak, nicking it to sail out ahead. She was 5-2 to the good in the second set, but four games later, Alexandrova was serving for the set. Andreeva found an extra gear and won a second tiebreak to get over the line in battling fashion.

If Andreeva was going to win this match, she would have to do something she had never done before against Alexandrova in two prior contests: win a set. The two previous meetings were on grass and clay, so new territory for these two as they looked to break new ground in Beijing.

She began on the front foot, winning seven of the first eight points before going out into a 2-0 lead. The 19-year-old failed to make that a double break with two chances being wasted but did extend her lead to 3-1.

From that point, it turned into a flourishing period for Alexandrova. She won the next four games while dropping just seven points. Her early frustrations from the opening few games were overturned in some fashion as she led 5-3. Andreeva ended the rut with a break to love, getting the match back on serve.

That would bite Alexandrova back. The 31-year-old failed to serve it out, and three holds later would try again in the tiebreak. It was closely fought, but Andreeva managed find that extra gear and shot herself ahead.

The breakthrough in the second set would come after three routine holds of serve. Alexandrova faltered, and Andreeva pounced. The Roland Garros champion converted a second break point and moved within three games of a maiden China Open semi-final.

Alexandrova had a chance to break back, overturning a 40-0 deficit to create a golden chance to respond. Andreeva shut her down and made it three games on the trot. From 5-2, it looked almost certain that the match would be sewn up sooner rather than later. That was not the case.

An incredible burst by Alexandrova left Andreeva flustered and annoyed. She failed to serve it out and was second best for the next three games as Alexandrova raced back level. It would get worse with another break of serve allowing Alexandrova the chance to serve it out to confirm a third set. Andreeva left it late to force another tiebreak, and again prevailed in it to survive a huge scare and edge into the semi-finals.