Mirra Andreeva secured her first victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova on Thursday at the 2026 China Open in Beijing, advancing to the semifinals with a hard-fought 7-6(4), 7-6(3) win. This triumph marked a significant breakthrough for the 19-year-old, who had previously lost all three encounters against the seasoned Russian player.
The match was a showcase of resilience and precision, with both sets being settled by tiebreakers. Andreeva appeared to be in control in the second set, building a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak and even serving for the match at 5-3. However, Alexandrova displayed tenacity by rallying back, forcing another critical phase in the contest. At 2-2 in the tiebreak, Andreeva managed to regain composure, delivering a decisive forehand winner and capturing five of the last six points to close out the match after one hour and 53 minutes.
Andreeva Powers Through Tiebreakers to Seal the Win in Beijing
Reflecting on her performance, Andreeva expressed satisfaction with the victory, stating, “She played unbelievable today, and I’m very happy to get my very first win against her. I could have played more aggressively, but what a match this was. I’m super happy with how it went.”
At 19, Andreeva’s achievement is notable, making her the youngest semifinalist at the China Open since Ágnes Szávay reached that stage in 2007. Furthermore, this semifinal appearance marks Andreeva’s fourth career run in a WTA 1000 event, a milestone that only Coco Gauff has surpassed among her contemporaries.