World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka ousted rising Russian star Mirra Andreeva 6-1 6-4 to reach the Madrid Open semifinal and set up a showdown versus Elena Rybakina.
After beating 17-year-old Andreeva in their first meeting in Madrid last year, Sabalenka went on to win the title. This year in Madrid, Sabalenka and Andreeva faced off again and it was their second meeting.
Against Andreeva, Sabalenka came out determined to make a statement early on and she succeeded in her goal as the two-time Grand Slam champion broke the 17-year-old in the fourth and sixth games en route to winning the first set with just one game lost.
After easily winning the opener, Sabalenka went up by a set and a break after breaking Andreeva in the fifth game of the second set. With Andreeva serving to stay in the match in the ninth game, Sabalenka had two match points but the 17-year-old Russian saved those chances to cut the second-set deficit to 4-5. However, Sabalenka remained unfazed and converted her third match point on her serve in the following game.
“I’m super happy with the level I played today, and with this win. She’s an incredible player even though she’s super young. Conditions suit me well, and hopefully, I can just keep going the way that I’m going,” Sabalenka said of beating…
