Madrid, Spain – The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as the two youngest players in the WTA Top 30, Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva, gear up to face off for the third time in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. Gauff, the 20-year-old American and No. 4 seed, secured her place in this pivotal match by defeating Belinda Bencic, 6-4, 6-2. This marks Gauff’s first quarterfinal appearance in Madrid, a significant milestone for her career.
Immediately following Gauff’s victory, 17-year-old Andreeva, the No. 7 seed, triumphed over qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva with a score of 6-1, 6-4, securing her spot in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Andreeva, who has claimed two WTA 1000 titles this year in Dubai and Indian Wells, is set to celebrate her 18th birthday soon, adding extra excitement to this matchup.
In a twist of fate, the tournament faced a major disruption as widespread power outages swept through Spain just moments after Gauff finished her match. This unexpected event struck as Andreeva was serving for her match, leading to a suspension of play across all courts. Nevertheless, she managed to hold her nerve, saving four break points before the delay.
Gauff and Andreeva last met in 2023, a breakthrough year for the younger player on the Hologic WTA Tour. They previously crossed paths at significant tournaments, with Andreeva reaching the main draw of Roland Garros for the first time, ultimately losing to Gauff in the third round, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1, and again at the US Open, where Gauff emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-2 scoreline.
This upcoming meeting between Gauff and Andreeva marks their first encounter as Top 10 players. Andreeva enters this match on a five-match winning streak against Top 10 opponents, while Gauff faces a more challenging environment after recently losing to Jasmine Paolini in Stuttgart.
The match between Gauff and Bencic showcased Gauff’s strong performance; she dominated the court, achieving a remarkable 85% success rate on first serve points and landing 25 winners compared to Bencic’s 10. Gauff capitalized on 4 out of 14 break points, illustrating her aggressive style on the court.
Meanwhile, Andreeva displayed resilience against the Ukrainian Starodubtseva. Even amid significant pressure, she managed to thwart her opponent’s three break points in the opening game and maintained composure throughout, accruing a perfect record against break points.
Amid this high-stakes environment, the unexpected power outage meant that Andreeva had to navigate playing conditions resembling the junior circuit. The players were limited to self-judging line calls inequitably due to the absence of electronic systems and line umpires, which added an unusual layer of pressure to her performance.
Reflecting on the unusual day, Gauff remarked on the challenges presented by the outage, humorously recounting how players made do without basic amenities, like running water. “It’s crazy how much we depend on electricity,” she said. “It really puts things in perspective.”
Fans and spectators found themselves packed shoulder-to-shoulder in darkened communal areas, relying on cellphone lights during the outage. Inside the players’ lounge, the atmosphere was transformed into a more communal, friendly setting as they navigated an otherwise unsettling and surreal day at the tournament.
As Madrid returned to calm after this chaotic day, fans are eager to witness the thrilling match-up between Gauff and Andreeva. With both players showcasing exceptional skill and determination, the quarterfinals promise an encounter that will go down in tennis history.
