Andreeva vs. Kostyuk: Everything to Know About the Madrid Open Final The 2026 Mutua Madrid Open will culminate in a highly anticipated final between 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk, marking their second meeting of the year on the WTA Tour. The match, set for Saturday at Estadio Manolo Santana, will determine the champion of the prestigious clay-court tournament, with the winner earning a prize purse of €1,007,165 (approximately $1.18 million USD) and 1,000 ranking points toward the PIF WTA Rankings. The singles championship will take place at 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. BST, 11 a.m. EST), while the doubles final will follow on Sunday at 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. BST, 8 a.m. EST). Andreeva, the 2025 Linz champion, reached the Madrid final after a consistent run through the tournament. She began with a bye in the first round, then defeated Panna Udvardy, Dalma Galfi, Anna Bondar, Leylah Fernandez, and Hailey Baptiste in successive rounds. Her path included a 3-1 record in tiebreakers, showcasing her resilience in tight matches. This will be her third WTA 1000 final of 2026, with her previous titles in Adelaide and Linz. Andreeva, who is also the first teenager to reach three 1000 finals, has a strong record on clay, having won titles in Iasi (2024) and Linz (2025). She emphasized her focus on preparation, stating, “I don’t consider myself the favorite for the match because I know that whoever gets to the final is a tough opponent. I’ve learned not to care about the rankings of my opponent or the last name of my opponent. I’m just going to try to go on court and do the things that I have to do to really focus on the game plan that we create with Conchita [Martinez], and that’s the only thing I can control.#pif_wta_rankings #mirra_andreeva #mutua_madrid_open #marta_kostyuk #estadio_manolo_santana
Anastasia Potapova credits boyfriend Tallon Griekspoor after Madrid QF win Anastasia Potapova, the No. 56 player in the PIF WTA Rankings, secured a hard-fought quarter-final victory at the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open, crediting her boyfriend Tallon Griekspoor for his crucial support during the match. The Russian player faced off against Karolina Pliskova in a tightly contested third-set battle, ultimately prevailing 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals. Potapova emphasized that Griekspoor’s presence in the player box played a pivotal role in her mental resilience during the critical stages of the match. Griekspoor, the No. 33 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, had earlier suffered a doubles defeat on Wednesday afternoon, losing to Luke Johnson and Jan Zielinski 6-2, 4-6, 10-3 on Stadium 3. Despite this setback, the Dutchman quickly shifted his focus to supporting Potapova’s singles match. His arrival at the courtside during the final stages of the contest provided a significant emotional boost for the 25-year-old. Potapova described how Griekspoor’s encouragement helped her regain confidence after struggling mentally in the third set. “I was a little bit gone mentally in the third set,” Potapova admitted in her post-match interview. “I didn’t believe in myself at that moment. This is the first time I’m going to say it, but big respect to my boyfriend who came just on time. He saved me just in time. He kept telling me, ‘You can do this. We’re all together here. Just keep going.’ If I can say, I think in the third set it was most of his job to win this. I just played and mentally he just kept me there.” Potapova’s victory marked a significant milestone in her career, as she aimed for her first semi-final appearance at a WTA 1000 event.#pif_wta_rankings #tallon_griekspoor #pif_atp_rankings #mutua_madrid_open #anastasia_potapova
Eala thanks Gauff, her mom in International Women's Day tribute Alexandra Eala expressed her gratitude to Coco Gauff and her mother following her third-round victory at the Indian Wells tournament. During her on-court interview, she extended her appreciation to "all the incredible women who have paved the way," highlighting the importance of female role models in sports. Eala’s win over Gauff, who retired with a left arm injury in the second set, marked a significant moment in her career. The Filipina player, currently ranked No. 32 in the PIF WTA Rankings, dedicated her success to the women who have inspired her, including Gauff. "I want to say thank you to all the incredible women who have paved the way, who have advocated for themselves and for other women," Eala said, receiving enthusiastic support from the crowd. She specifically acknowledged Gauff as an "amazing competitor and amazing role model," expressing hope for her recovery. Eala also thanked her mother for her unwavering support, calling her "the amazing woman that she is" and emphasizing her role in shaping Eala’s identity. "I want to thank her for being the amazing woman that she is, and for helping me become the woman that I am. And that goes to all mothers," she added. Gauff, reflecting on her retirement during the match, expressed regret over the decision, which she described as difficult. She emphasized her desire to ensure Eala’s progress to the fourth round was not overshadowed by her withdrawal. "I felt really bad to pull out. You never want to pull out, but more so for her because she was playing great tennis," Gauff said. Eala’s journey to the Round of 16 included a first-round bye, followed by victories over Dayana Yastremska and Gauff.#indian_wells_tournament #alexandra_eala #coco_gauff #linda_noskova #pif_wta_rankings
