Mirra Andreeva, 19, becomes first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals after Madrid semifinal win

Key facts

• Mirra Andreeva turned 19 on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
• Andreeva defeated Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 7-6(8) in the Madrid Open semifinal.
• Andreeva is the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals.
• Baptiste saved six match points in her quarterfinal win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
• Baptiste is the lowest-ranked player to beat a World No. 1 on clay in the last 40 years.
• Andreeva has 12 clay-court wins this season, including the Linz Open title.
• Anastasia Potapova is the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal.
• All four semifinalists were vying for their first Madrid Open final appearance.

Birthday victory sends teenager into Madrid final

Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 19th birthday on Wednesday by reaching the Madrid Open final for the first time, defeating Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 7-6(8) in a tense semifinal. The Russian ninth seed becomes the first teenager in WTA history to reach three WTA 1000 finals, a milestone that underscores her rapid ascent on clay. Andreeva controlled the first set, winning 100 percent of points behind her first serve. In the second set, she raced to a 5-3 lead, dropping just four service points, before Baptiste saved a match point and broke back to level at 5-5. The American then had two set points in the tie-break but could not convert, as Andreeva edged ahead and finally converted her third match point. “I feel so much adrenaline inside,” Andreeva said. “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.”

Baptiste's fairytale run ends after stunning Sabalenka

Hailey Baptiste, the 30th seed, entered the semifinal on the back of the most dramatic upset of the tournament: a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) quarterfinal victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, in which she saved six match points. That win was Baptiste's first career top-five victory and avenged a quarterfinal loss to Sabalenka in Miami last month. Baptiste described the Madrid tournament as a “revenge tour,” and her semifinal opponent Andreeva had eliminated her at Wimbledon last year, their only prior meeting, with a 6-1, 6-3 scoreline. In Madrid, Baptiste reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time, matching her best tournament result from Abu Dhabi in February. She also became the lowest-ranked player to claim a comeback win on clay against a World No. 1 in the last 40 years. Despite the loss, Baptiste's run in Madrid marked a significant breakthrough, and she will rise in the rankings as a result.

Potapova and Kostyuk vie for other final spot

The other semifinal on Thursday night features lucky loser Anastasia Potapova against 26th seed Marta Kostyuk. Potapova made history by becoming the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, after quelling Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinals. Kostyuk, meanwhile, has started the clay season undefeated, winning her Madrid quarterfinal to extend her run. Both players are seeking their first Madrid Open final appearance. The winner will face Andreeva in Saturday's championship match. Potapova's unexpected deep run adds another layer of unpredictability to a tournament already full of surprises.

Andreeva's clay-court dominance continues

Andreeva's victory extends her clay-court record this season to 12 wins against just one defeat. She won the Linz Open final on clay earlier in the year, demonstrating her comfort on the surface. The teenager's ability to maintain composure under pressure, as evidenced by her saving set points in the tie-break, has become a hallmark of her game. Her serve was particularly effective against Baptiste: in the first set she won all points behind her first serve, and in the second set she dropped only four service points before the tie-break. Andreeva's all-court game and mental resilience make her a formidable opponent in the final.

Men's draw: Ruud's title defence ends, Blockx surges

In the men's draw, defending champion Casper Ruud saw his title defence ended by 21-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx, who won 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Blockx, ranked 69th, had never won an ATP Tour match on clay before the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month. He also defeated third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo en route to the semifinals. Ruud, who will drop out of the top 20 for the first time in nearly five years, called the defeat “depressing.” He added, “He didn't really have any weaknesses. I was impressed because I didn't really find any big weakness or hole in his game.” Blockx will face second seed Alexander Zverev, who swept aside 10th seed Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-4. The winner will play either Jannik Sinner or Arthur Fils in the final.

Alcaraz absence felt, but younger brother provides cheer

While no Spanish players remain in either draw, the home crowd found reason to cheer as Carlos Alcaraz—sidelined with a wrist injury that has ruled him out of the French Open—watched his 14-year-old brother Jaime compete in the under-16 tournament. Jaime Alcaraz won his match 6-3, 6-3 against compatriot Pol Mas, offering a glimpse of a potential future star. The elder Alcaraz's absence from Roland Garros is a significant blow to the tournament and to Spanish tennis fans.

The bottom line

• Mirra Andreeva, at 19, is the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals, highlighting her rapid rise on clay.
• Hailey Baptiste's upset of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals was the tournament's biggest surprise, but she could not replicate that form against Andreeva.
• Anastasia Potapova made history as the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, while Marta Kostyuk remains undefeated on clay this season.
• Alexander Blockx, ranked 69th, continued his stunning run by defeating defending champion Casper Ruud to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal.
• Carlos Alcaraz will miss the French Open due to a wrist injury, but his 14-year-old brother Jaime won his under-16 match in Madrid.