Mirra Andreeva has moved into the position of favourite to win the Madrid Open.
The top eight seeds — Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Elina Svitolina and Jasmine Paolini — have all been knocked out. This leaves Andreeva as the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw.
Andreeva beat Leylah Fernandez on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals. She’ll face Hailey Baptiste next after the American surprised Sabalenka in their quarter-final match.
Just two wins from lifting the trophy, Andreeva has a great chance to make her mark in Madrid.
Andreeva can make her mark on Roland Garros with a win in Madrid
It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Andreeva is still just a teenager.
She only turned 19 this week, but has already packed a lot into her young career.
The Russian has two WTA 1000 titles to her name, a Grand Slam semi-final appearance, and she’s been ranked as high as fifth in the world.
But despite all of that, there hasn’t been much talk about her as a serious contender for the French Open title.
A strong showing in Madrid might change that narrative quickly.
If Andreeva follows through and wins the title, it’ll be hard to leave her out of the Roland Garros conversation.
Some still question whether she has the mindset to win a major. Even Andreeva admitted earlier this week in Madrid that she didn’t see herself as a ‘champion’ yet.
A title run under these circumstances would help put some of those doubts to rest.
She’s had an impressive clay season so far, winning 11 of her 12 matches. That includes taking the title in Linz and making deep runs in both Stuttgart and now Madrid.
And there’s already history between her and Roland Garros. She reached the semi-finals there in 2024 and made it to the quarter-finals last year.
Picturing her holding up the trophy at Roland Garros this year isn’t out of reach. She still has plenty of growing to do, but there are fewer reasons by the day to doubt she can push for another deep run at Roland Garros this season, or soon after even if not quite yet this time around..
Can Baptiste cause Andreeva any problems?
Baptiste is already beaten two top seeds: Paolini and Sabalenka, in Madrid.
The 24-year-old is brimming with confidence and won’t fear anyone, even Andreeva.
However, her confidence may take a hit if she remembers what happened when they met at Wimbledon a year ago.
In their first and only career meeting, Andreeva made light work of Baptiste, dropping just four games in a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win.
If the world No.5 can get past her semi-final opponent, she will then face one of Karolina Pliskova, Anastasia Potapova, Marta Kostyuk or Linda Noskova in the final.
Andreeva faces Baptiste on Thursday 30th April in the semi-finals.
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