Andreeva Reaches Beijing Semifinals After Defeating Alexandrova

Mirra Andreeva reached the China Open semifinals in Beijing after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), earning her first victory over the No. 19 seed and advancing to a fourth WTA 1000 semifinal as a teenager.

According to wtatennis.com, the 19-year-old No. 4 seed completed the quarterfinal victory in 1 hour and 53 minutes after overcoming Alexandrova's late second-set comeback attempts.

Andreeva had led 5-2 in the second set and served for the match at 5-3 before Alexandrova forced another tiebreak. Andreeva then won five of the final six points to secure the win.

"Even when I had an advantage in the second set leading 5-2, I felt like she was still pressuring me. I felt like she was playing better and I didn't take my chances. I could have played more aggressive, but what a match this was.

I'm super happy with how it went. She played unbelievable today, and I'm very happy to get my very first win against her." Andreeva said after the match.

The victory improved Andreeva's record against Alexandrova to 1-2 at WTA Tour level after two previous defeats without winning a set. Wtatennis.com reported she became the youngest China Open semifinalist since Agnes Szavay in 2007.

Andreeva also posted strong season statistics, with 48 tour wins in 2026, 296 break points converted in WTA main-draw matches and 1,350 winners, according to wtatennis.com.

"She beat a lot of great players on her way to the semifinals. For sure, this match will be tough. Even though I won at the US Open, I still felt like the match was tough.

Lots of ups and downs. I think this match is going to be very entertaining for people to watch. She's an amazing player, so I'm super excited to play her again.

She's also very young, so it's kind of a battle of -- I don't want to say new generation -- but young players." Andreeva said ahead of her semifinal.

Andreeva will face Nikola Bartunkova in the semifinal after the Czech player defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 in 67 minutes to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal, according to wtatennis.com.

Bartunkova, 20, had also eliminated Aryna Sabalenka on her path to the last four, while the semifinal matchup will be the second meeting between the two players after Andreeva won their US Open encounter.

"Today's match, it wasn't easy because I know Linda, she plays so well, especially this season. I knew it's going to be difficult. With the sun today at the start, it wasn't easy because it was difficult to see the ball.

I think it was a pretty good match for me. Good serve, good shots. I'm overall kind of happy with the performance and I'm glad that I could finish in two sets.

Just be in the quarterfinal here in Beijing, I think it's a great start for the whole Asia Swing." Alexandrova said after defeating Linda Noskova.

Alexandrova reached her first China Open quarterfinal after beating Noskova 6-2, 6-2, becoming the oldest player to make her maiden quarterfinal at the tournament, according to wtatennis.com.

"Well, one thing I do know for sure, I didn't beat her yet. I will try my best with Conchita to see how I play against her, what to change, try something new that I can try to bring into the match. For sure it's going to be a great, entertaining match.

She's a great player. I don't know. Pretty excited to finally get that first win against her."

Andreeva said before the quarterfinal.

"I'm trying not to think about the head-to-head. When you thinking about that, it's create more tension and more pressure on yourself. It's going to be difficult, for sure.

If you put even more pressure on yourself, it's probably won't help you. We played a couple times. Every match you would play, it's different.

Every time is a different condition. You can have two matches before and third will be completely different than that. It's a nice statistic, but it's better not to think about it."

Alexandrova said before the quarterfinal.

The other China Open semifinal features Zheng Qinwen against Elise Mertens, with the winners of both semifinals advancing to the final.