Mirra Andreeva looked like a runaway train in the first set of her third-round match against Viktorija Golubic in Rome on Saturday. In the second set, she was derailed.
Rome: Scores | Draws | Order of play
But the 19-year-old didn’t let that wobble define her day, as she blanked the 33-year-old in the decider to close out a 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 victory in just under two hours and reach the fourth round in Rome for the second straight year. The win is her first over Golubic at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz level and her 28th of the season, tying her with Elena Rybakina for the tour lead.
She’ll now have a chance to beat another opponent for the first time in the Round of 16, where she’ll face No. 21 seed Elise Mertens in what will be their first career meeting. Mertens advanced earlier Saturday with a dramatic three-set win over defending champion and home favorite Jasmine Paolini after saving three match points.
Andreeva’s win over Golubic wasn’t quite that cinematic, but it still delivered its share of twists. With that in mind, here are the three best things I saw in the match:
1. Andreeva shows why everyone should watch more doubles
The match opened with Andreeva in full command. She broke in the second game, raced to a 3-0 lead, and soon found herself serving for the set at 5-1. All the while, winners were flying off both wings.
But what truly set the tone was her work at the net. The Linz champion won nine of 10 points up close in the first set, producing several applause-inducing moments. After saving two break points while attempting to serve it out, she clipped the line with a backhand to earn set point, then closed out the opener with another confident volley.
2. Golubic punches back in style
Credit where it’s due: Golubic absolutely made a match of it in the second set. Even after getting broken straightaway, she fought back and leveled at 2-2. After holding for 3-2, she produced one of the points of the match — a series of backhands that forced Andreeva off balance before she charged the net and feathered a slice for the winner. As if that weren’t impressive enough, she topped it a few games later.
First, she broke for 5-3 to earn a chance to serve for the set. Then she opened the next game with an avalanche of forehands, mixing in her trademark one-handed backhand for good measure. The point ended with Golubic scrambling for a miraculous get, flipping what looked like an Andreeva winner into her own.
Andreeva thought the point was won … until Golubic did this
Naturally, she was broken a few points later, giving Andreeva new life. But the reprieve was brief. Golubic broke right back on her fourth time of asking to snatch the second set and force a decider.
3. Frustration mounts for Andreeva, but she keeps firing
Even after Andreeva jumped out to 2-0 lead in the third set, it was clear she wasn’t thrilled with her level. That became even more obvious when Golubic saved two break points in the next game and Andreeva tossed her racket aside in frustration.
But instead of letting it fester, she used it as fuel. A few points later, she conjured up a backhand winner to seal the break for 3-0, and from there she played with the looseness she’d shown in the opening set. The winners returned seemingly every other point, and the match flipped back firmly in her control. In the end, Andreeva blanked Golubic in the decider to close out the match and send herself through to the fourth round.
She finished with 41 winners to just 26 unforced errors and won 21 of 29 points at the net.