Australian Open: Krejcikova ends Andreeva’s run, into quarter-finals
Barbora Krejcikova recovered to beat Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. She’ll play defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the next round
Barbora Krejcikova competes at the 2024 Australian Open © action plus / Panoramic
Barbora Krejcikova is through to the last eight of the Australian Open after ending Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva‘s run 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at Melbourne Park.
The first set was a topsy-turvy affair, but one that the precocious young Russian came out on top of, breaking the Krejcikova’s serve three times to cancel out the two occasions the Czech player had broken and seal the set.
The 2021 French Open champion’s experience and Grand Slam pedigree came to the fore in the second however, as she upped her intensity on return while cleaning up her own service game to keep Andreeva further at bay.
The pair exchanged breaks early on before Krejcikova made the decisive move in the sixth game, breaking again and proceeding to hold serve for the rest of that set.
From there, Krejcikova’s pressure began to take its toll on the the 16-year-old debutant, the Czech breaking twice without reply to seal a comfortable run to the finish line.
This defeat marks the end of yet another excellent and eye-catching run from Andreeva, who has only underlined her credentials as a soon-to-be top player with her showing in Melbourne.
For Krejcikova, a much-coveted tilt at a second Grand Slam title remains on course as she progresses to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for just the second time in her career.
She will play defending champion and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka in that last eight match.
Earlier in the tournament, Barbora Krejcikova defeated Japanese wildcard Mai Hontama (2-6, 6-4, 6-3), German Tamara Korpatsch (6-2, 6-2) and Australian qualifier Storm Hunter (4-6, 7-5, 6-3).
Andreeva, ranked No 47, won against American Bernarda Pera (7-5, 6-2), Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the No 6 seed (6-0, 6-2) and Frenchwoman Diane Parry (1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds.
Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):
- Qinwen Zheng vs. Oceane Dodin
- Jasmine Paolini vs. Anna Kalinskaya
- Linda Noskova vs. Elina Svitolina
- Victoria Azarenka vs. Dayana Yastremska
- Marta Kostyuk beat Maria Timofeeva (Q): 6-2, 6-1
- Aryna Sabalenka beat Amanda Anisimova: 6-3, 6-2
- Coco Gauff (4) beat Magdalena Frech: 6-1, 6-2
