Fifteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva, a wildcard entry in the Madrid Open, has caused a major upset by defeating world number 49 Leylah Fernandez in the first round. This win makes Andreeva the third 15-year-old to win a WTA 1000 main-draw match after American CiCi Bellis and compatriot Coco Gauff achieved the same feat at the Miami Open in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
Andreeva defeats Fernandez in straight sets
Russian Andreeva, who is currently ranked 194th in the world, defeated Fernandez 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round on Wednesday. Despite facing six break points, Andreeva managed to save five of them to emerge victorious against her Canadian opponent. Andreeva, who turns 16 on Saturday, will now face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round on Thursday. She will be looking to continue her impressive form and move further ahead in the tournament.
Andreeva’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering the fact that she is playing without a flag because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She is currently the youngest player in the top 300 of the WTA world rankings.
Teen sensation Andreeva making waves in the tennis world
Andreeva’s win over Fernandez is yet another example of the emerging talent in women’s tennis. The sport has seen a number of young players making their mark in recent years, with the likes of Gauff, Bianca Andreescu, and Iga Swiatek all achieving major success at a young age.
Andreeva’s future in the sport looks bright, and she will no doubt be looking to build on her impressive performance at the Madrid Open. Tennis fans will be eagerly watching to see how she progresses throughout the tournament and in her career as a whole.
