Andreeva beats Alexandrova to reach China Open semifinals and next faces Bartunkova

Associated Press

Oct 8, 2026

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, left, hugs Ekaterina Alexandrova, of Russia after winning the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova, of Russia during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic celebrates after winning against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, leaves the court after losing against Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic, in the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, left, talks to Ekaterina Alexandrova, of Russia after winning the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

BEIJING (AP) — French Open champion Mirra Andreeva reached the semifinals of the China Open after battling past Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) on Thursday.

Andreeva had lost her previous two matches against Alexandrova, who rallied back from 4-1 down in the second set and 5-3 down with Andreeva serving for the match.

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“I felt like she was playing better and I didn't take my chances. I could have played more aggressive but what a match this was,” Andreeva said. “She played unbelievable today, and I’m very happy to get my very first win against her.”

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The fourth-seeded Andreeva is aiming for a fourth singles title this year and next faces Nikola Bartunkova. She earlier reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal after beating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0.

Bartunkova stamped her authority on the quarterfinal by racing to 5-0 against her seventh-seeded opponent. It was the 20-year-old Bartunkova's third career win against a top 10-ranked opponent. ___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here