Mirra Andreeva celebrated her birthday in style by reaching the Madrid Open final for the first time, as opponent Hailey Baptiste proved unable to replicate her previous-round exploits against Aryna Sabalenka.
30th seed Baptiste won a thriller against Sabalenka in the quarter-finals but Andreeva, who turned 19 on Wednesday, ensured her fairytale run came to an end with a 6-4 7-6(8) victory in their last-four meeting.
The Russian was in control throughout the first set, winning 100 per cent of points behind her first serve, and withstood a late fightback from the American in the second.
Andreeva continued to dominate on serve in the second set, dropping just four points as she raced to a 5-3 lead, before Baptiste saved a match point and held for 5-4, and then broke back.
The American had two set points in the second set tie-break but could not convert them as Andreeva – now the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals – inched back in front and finally converted her third match point.
The ninth seed said: “I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I’m still nervous. I’m so happy that I won and I was able to save all those set points. I was very happy with the way I was able to serve. I cannot find a lot of words to describe how I am feeling right now.”
The teenager, who has 12 wins on clay – including in the Linz Open final – and only one defeat so far this season, will face either lucky loser Anastasia Potapova or 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in the final.
In the men’s draw defending champion Casper Ruud saw his title defence ended by rising star Alexander Blockx, who won 6-4 6-4 to make his first Masters 1000 semi-final.
The Belgian had never won an ATP Tour match on clay before reaching the third round at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month and continued his rapid rise on the surface with a composed display against the 12th seed.
The 21-year-old said: “To be honest, I’m just happy with being here. Even winning my first match here. I barely escaped in the first round, and I was happy about that already. Semi-finals is something I wouldn’t have even dreamed of to begin with.”
Ruud, who will drop out of the top 20 for the first time in nearly five years as a result, said the defeat was “depressing”.
The Norwegian said: “I found it depressing this game, because he didn’t really have any weaknesses. I was impressed because I didn’t really find any big weakness or hole in his game. And when you don’t do that, it’s easier to kind of over-hit and feel like you don’t get anything out of your own shots. So credit to him for being, obviously, a very good server, yes, but also very solid and playing well from the baseline.”
World No 69 Blockx also beat third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo in his march to the semi-finals, where he will be the underdog once more against either second seed Alexander Zverev or 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, with the winner of Jannik Sinner vs Arthur Fils awaiting in the final.
While there are no Spanish players left in either draw the home crowd had something to cheer as Carlos Alcaraz – sidelined with a wrist injury which has ruled him out of the French Open – watched his 14-year-old brother Jaime play in the under-16 tournament, with the younger Alcaraz winning 6-3 6-3 over compatriot Pol Mas.
