general

Kostyuk beats Andreeva to win Madrid Open

BBC Sport

Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva have both reached three finals this year and won clay court titles this month, in Rouen and Linz respectively Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk beat Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to win the Madrid Open and her first title at WTA 1000 level. The world number 23 triumphed 6-3 7-5 against her Russian opponent, becoming only the second player outside of the top 20 to win in the Spanish capital. "It feels unbelievable to stand here right now," said 26th seed Kostyuk after winning in her first final at this level.

"It took me many years to reach this point and the one word I think about right now is consistency - showing up every day no matter how hard it is, no matter how much you love or hate what you do. "I've been doing that really well [over] the past years I think, so I'm very proud of myself and my team. " The 23-year-old Kostyuk took the first break for a 4-2 lead in the opening set, and while she double-faulted her first set point she won the second when ninth seed Andreeva went long.

Kostyuk broke immediately in the second set, but 19-year-old Andreeva broke back straight away, before the pair both won against serve in the fourth and fifth games. After Kostyuk had saved two set points in the previous game, Andreeva double-faulted for 6-5, allowing her opponent to serve for the match. Kostyuk set up three Championship points, and while she lost the first two, world number eight Andreeva sent the third long for her first defeat in three finals at WTA 1000 level.

The title is Kostyuk's third on the WTA tour and her second this season, after she won the Rouen Open, also on clay, two weeks ago.