Fernandez Stunned By 15-Year-Old Russian Prodigy In Madrid
WTA
Leylah Fernandez won't have good memories of the 2023 Madrid Open as she lost already in the first round to a 15-year-old opponent.
Mirra Andreeva is the name that everyone has been talking about recently as the 15-year-old Russian lost only one of 19 matches that she played this season. She reached the Girls' final at the Australian Open and then won two consecutive ITF events in Switzerland, while losing only three sets in 13 matches.
However, Andreeva had only one chance to compete on the WTA Tour before, but the Madrid Open gave her yet another chance. The teenager received a wild card for the tournament, but the draw made sure her second-ever professional match won't be an easy one as she took on the 2021 US Open finalist, Leylah Fernandez.
The Canadian was coming to the Spanish capital in good form, after playing a crucial role in her country's win in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier. But the teenage prodigy proved to be too strong for her in the opening match in Madrid.
Andreeva broke her opponent's first service game and thanks to holding to love twice, she led early in the first set 3-0. That gave her enough room to work with and also the confidence to keep doing what worked for her in the opening games.
And the Russian continued to do exactly that as she saved two break points in the fifth game and after two more holds of her serve, she won the first set 6-3 and wanted to keep the momentum going also into the rest of the match.
Fernandez struggled to find her rhythm and her struggles were apparent in the second set. Andreeva quickly sprinted away with a two-break advantage, leading 5-1 in the second set.
Although it seemed that Fernandez will be able to respond as she recovered one break, after an hour and 17 minutes, 15-year-old Mirra Andreeva won 6-3, 6-4 to win her first professional match on the WTA Tour.
Up next, the 15-year-old will challenge the 13th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia from Brazil, who will be even bigger challenge for the teenager.
