Madrid Open: Uchijima Stuns Alexandrova to Reach Quarterfinals
In a major upset, Japanese tennis player Moyuka Uchijima defeated Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 21st seed, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open at the Caja Mágica. According to Tennis Majors, Uchijima, ranked 56th in the world, will next face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the 17th seed.
Uchijima’s victory over Alexandrova, ranked 22nd in the world, was a significant upset, and it capped off an impressive run for the Japanese player. Prior to her match against Alexandrova, Uchijima had already defeated American wildcard Robin Montgomery (1-6, 6-4, 6-3), Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the 26th seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-4), and American Jessica Pegula, the 3rd seed (6-3, 6-2). As Tennis Majors reports, Uchijima’s wins have seen her make a deep run in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Alexandrova had been enjoying a successful campaign in Madrid, having previously defeated Serbian Olga Danilovic (6-3, 6-4) and Australian Daria Kasatkina, the 14th seed (6-3, 7-6 (3)). However, her loss to Uchijima saw her exit the tournament.
The Madrid WTA 1000 has seen a number of exciting matches, with several top seeds in action. Other results from the last-16 round include: Marta Kostyuk vs. Anastasia Potapova; Aryna Sabalenka vs. Peyton Stearns; Elina Svitolina beating Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-4; Madison Keys (5) beating Donna Vekic (19) 6-2, 6-3; Iga Swiatek (2) beating Diana Shnaider (13) 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4; Coco Gauff (4) beating Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-2; and Mirra Andreeva (7) beating Yuliia Starodubtseva (Q) 6-1, 6-4, as per Tennis Majors.
Uchijima’s victory over Alexandrova marks a significant milestone for the Japanese player, who has been steadily climbing the rankings in recent months. Her win over Svitolina in the quarterfinals would see her reach the semifinals of the Madrid Open, a feat that would undoubtedly boost her confidence and ranking.
The Madrid Open, which is being held at the Caja Mágica, is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the WTA Tour, with a prize fund of €7.854 million. The tournament has attracted a number of top players, including Swiatek, Gauff, and Pegula, who are all vying for the title.
In conclusion, Moyuka Uchijima’s upset victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova has seen her reach the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open, where she will face Elina Svitolina. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both players looking to make a deep run in the tournament. Tennis Majors has been providing comprehensive coverage of the tournament, and their reporting has highlighted the impressive performances of players like Uchijima.
