Rising stars Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva, the two youngest players currently ranked within the Top 30, are slated to face each other for the third time in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open.
World No. 4 Coco Gauff secured her place in the Madrid last eight for the first time by defeating Belinda Bencic with a score of 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks Gauff`s debut in the Madrid quarterfinals and means the 20-year-old American has now reached the quarterfinal stage at every current WTA 1000 tournament except Miami.
Following closely after Gauff`s win, seventh seed Mirra Andreeva also advanced, overcoming qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-1, 6-4. This performance sends Andreeva back to the Madrid quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. The 17-year-old, who will celebrate her 18th birthday on Tuesday, has already enjoyed a successful season, having claimed two WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.
The conclusion of the matches occurred during an unusual widespread power outage across Spain, confirmed by the national electricity grid operator. The power disruption happened precisely as Andreeva was serving for the match, yet she managed to save four break points to seal her win just before play was temporarily halted on all courts.
Gauff and Andreeva have not competed against each other since 2023, which was Andreeva`s breakthrough season on the Hologic WTA Tour. Both of their prior encounters took place on the Grand Slam stage. At Roland Garros in 2023, Gauff stopped Andreeva`s main-draw debut run in the third round with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1 victory. Three months later, Gauff repeated the result, winning 6-3, 6-2 in the US Open second round.
Now, two years later, their upcoming quarterfinal clash will be their first meeting with both players ranked within the Top 10. Andreeva enters the match in strong form against Top 10 opposition, currently holding a five-match winning streak. Conversely, Gauff`s only previous match against a Top 10 player this year resulted in a loss to Jasmine Paolini in the Stuttgart quarterfinals last week.
Gauff`s Dominant Performance Against Bencic
Gauff`s victory over Bencic was notably decisive. This marked their third encounter of the season but their first on clay. Gauff now leads their overall head-to-head record 3-2. Unlike their previous three-set battles this year, Gauff controlled this match effectively, excelling in serve, return, and groundstrokes. She created 14 break point opportunities on Bencic`s serve, converting four, while facing only a single break point on her own serve. Gauff hit 25 winners compared to Bencic`s 10 and won an impressive 85% of her first-serve points, significantly higher than the Swiss player`s 60%.
A key factor in the match was Gauff`s relentless attack on Bencic`s second serve. She landed several clean return winners, including crucial ones that secured breaks for a 4-2 lead in the first set and a 3-1 lead in the second. Bencic ultimately managed to win only four points behind her second delivery throughout the match.
Andreeva Continues Strong Form in Madrid
Mirra Andreeva showcased composure and strategic acumen in her win over qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, an opponent she had never faced before. Starodubtseva, ranked No. 99, immediately signaled her threat by creating three break points in the opening game and effectively deploying her drop shot numerous times throughout the contest. However, Andreeva, known for her tactical flexibility, successfully navigated these challenges, saving all nine break points she faced.
In the first set, Andreeva employed a careful, consistent strategy to draw errors from her opponent during crucial moments. As the second set tightened, the teenager adjusted her approach, becoming more aggressive and utilizing her own effective drop shots to counter Starodubtseva`s tactics. This adaptable play highlights her growing maturity on court.
