Andreeva Survives Baptiste Scare to Reach First Madrid Open Final
Andreeva fended off a late Baptiste comeback to win in straight sets. She turns 19 this week and now has Madrid final berths to add to Dubai and Indian Wells titles from last year.
Baptiste saved a match point and broke Andreeva serving for it at 5-4, but the Russian teenager prevailed in a tiebreak to make her first clay WTA 1000 final...
A composed Mirra Andreeva withstood a late push from Hailey Baptiste on Thursday, winning 6-4, 7-6(8) in a tense battle to reach her first Madrid Open final.
Andreeva, who celebrated her 19th birthday Wednesday, will play either Marta Kostyuk or Anastasia Potapova in the clay-court final after they meet later Thursday.
“I feel so much adrenaline inside, I feel like I'm still nervous,” Andreeva said in the post-match interview.
“Honestly, I'm just so happy that I won... I'm very happy with how I served today.”
Baptiste came in after upsetting world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, but the 24-year-old had trouble against ninth seed Andreeva, who dropped just two points on serve in the opening set.
The American held steady until 3-3, when Baptiste sent a forehand wide to give Andreeva a break point. The former French Open semifinalist ripped a backhand down the line to take the decisive break and close out the set.
Baptiste committed 16 unforced errors in the first set and her struggles carried into the second, gifting Andreeva a break for a 3-2 edge.
But the American saved a match point in game nine. Serving for the match, Andreeva double-faulted and missed a smash, then Baptiste struck two clean winners to earn her first break and level at 5-5.
Owning the Caja Magica! ✨
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 30, 2026
Andreeva notches up a high-quality win over Baptiste 6-4, 7-6(8) to reach her maiden #MMOPEN final.
Will she claim her third @WTA 1000 🏆 on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/9XuzaLlQjr
The set went to a tiebreak, where a resurgent Baptiste reeled off four straight points. Andreeva responded with pinpoint backhands down the lines and erased three set points.
Baptiste saved a match point with an ace, but sent a return long on the next as Andreeva sealed the win. It’s her third WTA 1000 final after titles at the Dubai Championships and Indian Wells last year.
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