In-form teenager Mirra Andreeva on Thursday crashed out of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, after going down in straight sets to fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16.
World No. 7 Andreeva, who already has two titles under her belt this season, lost 6-3, 6-2 against the 22nd-ranked Alexandrova in just over an hour.
The 17-year-old Andreeva had defeated her elder sister Erika in the previous round on Wednesday, but Alexandrova quickly took control as she claimed her fourth win over a top-10 player this season.
Photo: Reuters
The 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in February became the youngest winner of a WTA 1000 event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, beating Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina on her way to the crown. She backed it up by winning at Indian Wells last month, coming from a set down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Later on Thursday, World No. 4 Coco Gauff of the US made short work of German Ella Seidel, winning 6-1, 6-1 in 57 minutes.
Gauff rebounded from her straight-sets exit in the last 16 at the Miami Open, hitting two aces and breaking her opponent five times en route to a dominant victory.
Gauff was to meet Italian fifth seed Jasmine Paolini, who beat German Jule Niemeier 6-1, 7-5 to reach the Stuttgart quarters for the second straight year.
“I’m doing what I love, I think just be happy about it, try your best and enjoy,” Paolini said. “That’s the key for me to play better. When I’m sad and complaining, I’m not that good.”
Alexandrova was to face third-ranked Jessica Pegula of the US, who beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-1.
Pegula won five of five break points and fought off one.
Sabalenka qualified for the quarter-finals after her opponent Anastasia Potapova pulled out of their last-16 clash with an injury.
World No. 2 Swiatek, a two-time winner in Stuttgart, has also reached the last eight.
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