By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 10, 2026
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open
Mirra Andreeva mastered milestones in Beijing.
Andreeva swept Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2, bursting into her first Beijing final with her 50th win of the season.
The victory vaults Andreeva into her first final since she won her maiden major at Roland Garros in June and propels her to a new career-high ranking of No. 3.
“Yes, I’m very happy and excited to be in the finals,” Andreeva said. “I think I played very good today. I’m super happy with the way I was playing.
“Of course Nikola is a very tricky opponent. We had not an easy match at the US Open. But super happy I won today.”
The 19-year-old Andreeva broke early in both sets building a 4-0 first-set lead and a 4-1 second-set lead in her second win over Bartunkova in as many meetings. Andreeva defeated Bartunkova 6-2, 7-6(5) in the US Open third round.
In today’s rematch, Andreeva committed just 10 unforced errors, half of her opponent’s total, in her fourth consecutive straight-sets win of this China Open. Andreeva dropped her first set of the tournament and has won 10 straight sets since then.
“I think especially here this tournament, also we take my first match where it was kind of up and down a lot, felt like I didn’t play my best,” Andreeva said. “I just felt like with every match that I’ve been playing, I was feeling better and better physically and mentally – the way I was playing on court, as well.
“I think the amount of matches I’ve had to play, I feel like with every match I was playing better, so that was giving me confidence into every match that I was going. Yeah, I feel like that helped me the most.”
The 2025 Indian Wells champion Andreeva, who qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals this week, will play for her seventh career championship, including her fourth title of the season, tomorrow.
Andreeva, the youngest woman to reach the China Open final since 18-year-old Agnes Szavay collected the 2007 title, will face either Chinese wild card Zheng Qinwen or Belgian Elise Mertens in the final.
“Of course, I think no matter who’s going to win, it’s going to be tough,” Andreeva said of the final. “I think Elise, also she beat two top-10 players in a row. She’s also on a great winning streak. She’s been playing great, as well. That’s true that she has a different game style.
“I feel like Qinwen, obviously she’s more aggressive, she likes to hit a lot of balls, she tries to play fast, whereas I think Elise kind of likes to play, build the point, kind of be smart, what to do. Yeah, different types of opponents.
“We will prepare our best with Conchita no matter who will win and I will try to play my best in the final.”
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