(Tennis news) Ranked 194 in the world, 15 year old Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-4 at the Madrid Open in the opening round on Wednesday. Andreeva turned 16 on Saturday but displayed a very mature performance, saving five out of six break points against her more experienced opponent who is ranked 49. She will now take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.
The other two 15 year olds to win a WTA 1000 main-draw match were CiCi Bellis and Coco Gauff at the Miami Open in 2015 and 2019 respectively. Andreeva also became the second 15 year old to defeat a top 50 opponent at a WTA1000 event after Bellis, who defeated Zarina Diyas who was ranked 32nd at the time. Andreeva made her Tour level-debut at a WTA250 event in Tunisia last year but lost in the opening round to Anastasia Potapova 3-6, 7-6(4), 3-6.
Andreeva is ranked third in the ITF Junior Rankings and also reached the junior Australian Open final this year. The Madrid Open has seen not one but two teenagers win their first round matches as 17 year old Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic defeated Katie Volynets 6-3, 7-5 and will now take on Jelena Ostapenko. Meanwhile, 15 year old Brenda Fruhvirtova was defeated by Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 4-6, 4-6.
Also read: Emma Raducanu withdraws from the Madrid Open with a hand injury
