Three out of three; from qualies to the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open. Irene Burillo picked up one of the biggest wins of her career on Wednesday in the Caja Mágica. The Spaniard came back to beat Estonian player Kaia Kanepi (6-7[5], 6-2, 6-4).

The two and a half hours of battle on the clay of the Spanish capital earned the Zaragoza native a match with Coco Gauff. The sixth seed in the WTA draw was a finalist at last year’s French Open and will provide Burillo with another great chance to extend her time in front of her home fans.

The Spanish fans also had plenty more to celebrate. Rebeka Masarova, playing on a wildcard, took the spoils in an all-Spanish clash that opened the day’s play in the Manolo Santana Stadium (6-3, 5-7, 6-4 over her compatriot Cristina Bucsa) and will now take on Donna Vekic. Meanwhile, Nuria Párrizas, who came through qualifying, defeated Anna Blinkova (6-3, 6-0) and will now meet Veronika Kudermetova.

A number of top players found out on Wednesday who they will be facing in their openers. First seed Iga Swiatek will cross swords with Julia Grabher (6-1, 7-6[5] vs. Viktoriya Tomova), Jessica Pegula [3] takes on Magdalena Frech (6-2, 6-3 vs. Jasmine Paolini), Elena Rybakina [7] plays Anna Kalinskaya (2-6, 6-4, 6-4 vs. Brenda Fruhvirtova) and Maria Sakkari [9] faces Arantxa Rus (7-5, 6-2 vs. Amanda Anisimova).

Andreeva shakes up the MMOPEN

On Saturday, Mirra Andreeva will be celebrating just her 16th birthday, but her time at the Mutua Madrid Open is sure to be a turning point in her fledgling career. First times are always memorable and claiming your first WTA 1000 win is one of those special occasions.

The Russian player made the most of an invitation from the organisers of the tournament in the Spanish capital to cause something of a stir on Wednesday in the Caja Mágica with her 6-3, 6-4 win over Canadian player Leylah Fernández, a finalist at the 2021 US Open. Andreeva will now be bidding to extend her run in a match against Brazilian thirteenth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Success at such a young age has earned the current WTA world No. 194 a meteoric rise through the ranks. In 2022 she won her first ITF W25 title in Segovia. Earlier this season she reached the final of the Junior Australian Open and she is the only under-16 player with multiple titles in the ITF W60 category or higher in the history of the ITF World Tennis Tour (Meitar, Chiasso and Bellinzona).

Other results from Round 1

Caty McNally (USA) d. Dalma Galfi (HUN) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3

Xiyu Wang (CHN) d. Varvara Gracheva 6-7[2], 6-3, 6-4

Tatjana Maria (GER) d. [WC] Alexandra Eala (PHI) 6-1, 6-1

Aliaksandra Sasnovich d. [WC] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 6-4, 7-5

Mayar Sherif (EGY) d. Camila Giorgi (ITA) 4-6, 6-4, ret.

[WC] Camila Osorio (COL) d. [Q] Clara Burel (FRA) 6-3, 6-4

Alycia Parks (USA) d. [Q] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-2, 6-7[5], 6-2

[Q] Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) d. [Q] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 6-7[6], 6-2, 6-2

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) d. Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 6-1, 6-3

[Q] Laura Siegemund (GER) d. Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

[Q] Marketa Vondrosouva (CZE) d. [WC] Marina Bassols (ESP) 6-1, 6-3

Danika Kovinic (MNE) d. [Q] Sara Errani (ITA) 6-4, 6-0

Jaqueline Cristian (ROM) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

Alize Cornet (FRA) d. [Q] Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROM) 6-7[6], 6-4, 6-3