Mirra Andreeva makes Madrid Open final but defending champion Casper Ruud suffers ‘depressing’ exit

Mirra Andreeva celebrated her birthday in style by reaching the Madrid Open final for the first time, as opponent Hailey Baptiste proved unable to replicate her previous-round exploits against Aryna Sabalenka. 30th seed Baptiste won a thriller against Sabalenka in the quarter-finals but Andreeva, who turned 19 on Wednesday, ensured her fairytale run came to an end with a 6-4 7-6(8) victory in their last-four meeting. The Russian was in control throughout the first set, winning 100 per cent of points behind her first serve, and withstood a late fightback from the American in the second.

Andreeva continued to dominate on serve in the second set, dropping just four points as she raced to a 5-3 lead, before Baptiste saved a match point and held for 5-4, and then broke back. The American had two set points in the second set tie-break but could not convert them as Andreeva - now the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals - inched back in front and finally converted her third match point. The ninth seed said: “I feel so much adrenaline inside.

I feel like I'm still nervous. I'm so happy that I won and I was able to save all those set points. I was very happy with the way I was able to serve.

I cannot find a lot of words to describe how I am feeling right now. ” The teenager, who has 12 wins on clay - including in the Linz Open final - and only one defeat so far this season, will face either lucky loser Anastasia Potapova or 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in the final. In the men’s draw defending champion Casper Ruud saw his title defence ended by rising star Alexander Blockx, who won 6-4 6-4 to make his first Masters 1000 semi-final.