Ladies Open Lausanne: Andreeva dismantles Yastremska in maiden meeting with the Ukrainian

Mirra Andreeva comprehensively outplayed an erratic Dayana Yastremska, defeating the Ukrainian 6-0, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Ladies Open Lausanne.

The 16-year-old Russian, ranked No 64 in the world, was making her first competitive appearance since being knocked out of Wimbledon in the fourth round by Madison Keys, a match that ended in controversial circumstances as Andreeva was docked a point after being deemed to have thrown her racket.

There was no sign of a post-Wimbledon hangover for the precocious teenager, however, as she came out of the blocks with her typically eye-catching brand of heavy-hitting and variety to overwhelm her Ukrainian opponent.

Chastening defeat for Yastremska as Andreeva’s quality shows

Despite a competitive opening couple of games, the first set was over in just 28 minutes, with the Russian taking it 6-0 as Yastremska failed to cope with the quality on the other side of the net.

There was a brief reprieve for the 23-year-old at the start of the second, as she regained the early break she’d suffered to get her first game on the board.

Yastremska showed fleeting glimpses of the player she can be when her trademark power came out in the second stanza, briefly giving her Russian opponent something to think about.

It was a topsy-turvy start to the set, however, with both players exchanging breaks over the next two games as Andreeva’s first serve percentage dipped below 50%.

But just as there looked to be an opportunity to get some sort of foothold in the match for Yastremska, the world No 64 had regained her rhythm on serve, while the Ukrainian’s erratic errors crept back into her game.

From then, there was only one winner as the teenager broke for the seventh time in the match to take the second 6-2 and move into the last 16.

It was a lesson in consistency and shot-making ability from the younger competitor, as Yastremska failed to hold serve once in the match.

Differing trajectories for today’s opponents

The Ukrainian is desperately trying to regain some measure of form or momentum after a difficult couple of years on tour.

She was ranked as high as 21st in the world in 2020, following a breakthrough season the previous year in which she won two WTA titles to back up her maiden triumph at tour level in 2018.

However, she currently finds herself languishing at 152nd in the world after an alarming drop-off in form. This coincided roughly with her country being invaded by Russia, something which – quite understandably – has been detrimental to her promising early development.

I have maybe 20 more years… I think I will get a chance to be top 50

Andreeva aiming high as superb breakthrough season continues

Andreeva, meanwhile, looks almost as sharp as she has all season, with just the smallest hint of rustiness on serve emerging in that second set.

“At the beginning of the year I wanted to be [in the] top 70, but now I’m 66, so one goal is done,” Andreeva said in her on-court interview when asked about what goals she has for the season.

“But… maybe to be top 50 by the end of the year. If I can do it, that would be amazing for me for sure.

“But if not, then I have maybe 20 more years to do that. So, I think I will get a chance to be top 50.”

Based on this season’s results and performances, this seems more than an achievable target for the rapidly rising Russian prodigy.

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