Andreeva Ends Losing Run Against Alexandrova to Reach China Open Semifinals
Mirra Andreeva recovered from a second-set comeback to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tiebreaks and reach the China Open semifinals. The fourth seed said it was her first win over Alexandrova after losing their previous two meetings. She will next face Nikola Bartunkova, who reached the last four by beating Karolina Muchova in straight sets.
BEIJING — A comeback nearly forced a deciding set at the China Open. Mirra Andreeva held off Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tiebreaks on Thursday to reach the semifinals, earning her first victory over the fellow Russian after losing their previous two matches.
The fourth-seeded Andreeva won 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), despite Alexandrova rallying from 4-1 down in the second set and recovering after Andreeva served for the match at 5-3. Andreeva will next face Nikola Bartunkova for a place in the final.
It was a tight escape.
“I felt like she was playing better and I didn't take my chances. I could have played more aggressive but what a match this was,” Andreeva said. “She played unbelievable today, and I'm very happy to get my very first win against her.”
Andreeva ends losing run against Alexandrova
The victory changed the record between the pair. Before this quarterfinal, Alexandrova had beaten Andreeva in their previous two meetings, at Stuttgart in 2025 and Bad Homburg in 2026, according to the WTA.
Andreeva had already shown strong form in Beijing. She advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Daria Snigur 6-2, 6-2, breaking her opponent five times while dropping serve once. The WTA reported that Andreeva hit 18 winners and made 15 unforced errors in that match.
That win was her 48th of the season on tour, the most she had recorded in a single season. The WTA said only Jessica Pegula, with 50 wins, and Elena Rybakina, with 49, had won more matches that year.
Against Alexandrova, Andreeva had to handle a different kind of pressure. She led in the second set, but Alexandrova fought back and pushed both sets to tiebreaks. Andreeva closed out the match without needing a third set.
Bartunkova awaits in the semifinals
Bartunkova secured her semifinal place by beating seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0. The 20-year-old Czech won the first five games and the final seven games of the match.
The result marked Bartunkova's first WTA 1000 semifinal. She had also beaten Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the tournament, and the win over Muchova was her third career victory against a top-10-ranked opponent.
“For sure [I didn't expect it] before this tournament,” Bartunkova said. She said that practice and matches against top players, including Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, had helped her prepare, though she said she had not expected these results.
Andreeva, the French Open champion, is aiming for a fourth singles title this year. The semifinal against Bartunkova is her next match in Beijing after the two-tiebreak win over Alexandrova.
Andreeva won the match 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).
