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Saturday | October 10, 2026 | Dhaka

Andreeva Bartunkova to meet in China Open semis

 Agency
 Published: 12:56 AM, 10 October 2026

Mirra Andreeva claimed victory in an all-Russian clash against Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), while the Czech Republic’s Nikola Bartunkova upset her compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 in the women’s singles quarterfinals of the China Open on Thursday.

For both Russian players, there were highlights in returns as well as fluctuations in mentality during the match.

They fought to tiebreaks in both sets, and Andreeva, 19, was the one who scored decisive points to secure a semifinal berth. It also marked the teenager’s first win over the 31-year-old Alexandrova in her career.

“At one point I felt like she (Alexandrova) started playing better. Maybe I did a couple of mistakes here and there.

I just felt like the game was slipping away from me slowly. I really want to close it out, but I can’t. It keeps going away from me further and further.

I’m just happy that I was able to stay calm and win the match with two tiebreaks,” reflected Andreeva.

Fourth seed Andreeva will next face Bartunkova, 20, who showed good form in sweeping the seventh seed Muchova.

“Today I was really aggressive. I wasn’t like very nervous. I just tried to put my best tennis, and I did it.

So it was a great match for me,” Bartunkova said. “Before this year, I didn’t honestly expect that I would be here or stay here in the WTA 1000 semifinals.

It’s great to beat players like top 10 or top 20. Here I beat Sabalenka, Muchova, also Frech and Kraus.”

“Mirra is already a Grand Slam champion. She is younger than me. It sounds great that the young generation comes through. I’m just really happy that I am part of this generation.

It is important to improve my style, my game, and just enjoy tennis,” Bartunkova added.

In the women’s doubles quarterfinals, Mertens and Russia’s Diana Shnaider saw off Australian Ellen Perez and the Netherlands’ Demi Schuurs 6-2, 6-1, while Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani defeated Italian pair Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 7-6 (6).