Mirra Andreeva Reaches China Open Final, Set to Climb to World No. 3

"I'm very happy and excited to be in the finals," Andreeva said after her victory. She praised Bartunkova as a challenging opponent, referencing their competitive match at the US Open. "Of course, Nikola is a very tricky opponent. But I'm super happy I won today."

Andreeva's success reflects significant improvements in her game, particularly in her return. This season, she leads the WTA Tour in break points converted, having successfully converted 301 break points in main-draw matches. In her semifinal match, she converted five out of ten break-point opportunities.

"We've been working on returning a lot," Andreeva noted. She credited her team for their efforts, particularly highlighting Conchita Martinez's initiative in their training. "I feel like the work is paying off little by little. So super happy with those numbers."

The final will mark Andreeva's fifth of the season, tying her with Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Jessica Pegula for the most finals appearances this year on the WTA Tour. This victory also marked her 50th win of the season, tying her with Pegula for the most match wins on tour in 2026. Following this result, Andreeva is set to achieve a career-high ranking of World No. 3 next week.

In the final, Andreeva will face either No. 13 seed Elise Mertens or former World No. 4 Zheng Qinwen. She has a 1-0 record against Mertens but has lost her only previous encounter with Zheng. Looking ahead to the final, Andreeva acknowledged the challenges posed by both potential opponents, praising Mertens' recent performance against top players and recognizing Zheng’s strong comeback.

"No matter who's going to win, it's going to be tough," she stated, expressing confidence in her preparation for the final regardless of her opponent's style of play. "We will prepare our best with Conchita no matter who will win and I will try to play my best in the final."