Andreeva, 15, gets 1st tour-level win; Raducanu withdraws at Madrid Open

MADRID: After her backhand fell inside the baseline for match point, 15-year-old Mirra Andreeva raised both hands and covered her face. She couldn’t stop smiling as she headed to the net, as if not believing what had just happened.

The 6-3, 6-4 upset of former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez at the Madrid Open on Wednesday was the first tour-level win for the Russian teenager, coming three days before here 16th birthday.

Andreeva became the third-youngest player to win a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament, behind Coco Gauff and CiCi Bellis. She was only the second 15-year-old to defeat a top-50 opponent at a WTA 1000 event.

“It was really tough match for me and I just tried to give my best and to play every point,” Andreeva said. “I’m extremely happy with my level today.”

Andreeva had never faced a top-50 opponent but had already earned impressive results this year on the junior and ITF levels. Her first main-draw victory extended her unbeaten pro record in 2023 to 14-0, and she was coming off two consecutive ITF W60 titles. Andreeva’s second-round opponent will be 13th-seeded Bia Haddad Maia of Brazil.

Brenda Fruhvirtova, who is 16, lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Anna Kalinskaya, but her 17-year-old sister Linda Fruhvirtova on Tuesday had won her first-round match against Katie Volynets 6-3, 7-5. She will next play 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. The 58th-ranked Linda Fruhvirtova is the youngest player inside the top 100. She will turn 18 on Monday.

“It’s great that teenagers are playing that great now and they have a possibility to play this tournament,” Andreeva said.

Also Tuesday, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu withdrew because of a right hand injury. The 20-year-old was scheduled to play