Google News Mutua Madrid Open: Scintillating win for Mirra Andreeva over Leylah Fernandez in 1R
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Mirra Andreeva wrote the story in the initial session on Wednesday at the Mutua Madrid Open. The 15-year-old wild card stunned Leylah Fernandez in their opening-round clash. Andreeva posted a 6-3, 6-4 win after an hour and 16 minutes of play.
Andreeva won 68% of her first-serve points to the former Flushing Meadows finalist’s 57%. The teen also won 65% of her second-serve points to her opponent’s 63%. The difference between the two players also came out in how they played when facing break points.
Despite being the inexperienced player, Andreeva came out clutch and saved five of the six break points she faced. Fernandez who faced five break points of her own could only save two of these. This win’s mammoth for Andreeva as this marks her first-ever win in a WTA Tour event.
In fact, Andreeva’s also the only teen girl in this age-group to win a match in a tournament of this category. The two other players before her to do so were Americans Coco Gauff and Cici Bellis. Meanwhile, in the round-of-64, Andreeva will take on another left-hander in 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Mutua Madrid Open: Tough luck for Emma Raducanu
Another teenager, Brenda Fruhvirtova, however, lost her first-round match in the Spanish event. Anna Kalinskaya came from a set down to defeat Fruhvirtova 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that went past the two-hour mark.
In the first set, Fruhvirtova won 75% points on return on Kalinskaya’s second serve. But the latter improved her stats as the match went on. In the second set, Kalinskaya won 73% of her first-serve points and 54% of her second-serve points.
The deciding set saw Kalinskaya take a double-break lead only for her to surrender one break back in the sixth game. However, she did well to hold on to the other break long enough to serve out the match on the first of the two match points she brought up.
Kalinskaya will play Elena Rybakina next. Lastly, Emma Raducanu was forced to make a late withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open. The Briton who could’ve played world no. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second round suffered an injury to her right hand that prompted her decision.
Austrian Julia Grabher replaced the former US Open winner in the draw. Photo Credit: Twitter 