Andreeva beats Alexandrova to reach China Open semi-final

by EditorOctober 8, 202605

Andreeva beats Alexandrova to reach China Open semi-final

Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail

Russia’s fourth-seeded Mirra Andreeva defeated compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tight sets to book her place in the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing.

The 19-year-old French Open champion won 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-3) in a closely contested quarter-final at the National Tennis Centre on Thursday.

Andreeva made a strong start, breaking Alexandrova early to take a 2-0 lead. However, the 19th seed responded strongly and moved 5-3 ahead as both players found it difficult to hold serve.

Andreeva recovered to level the contest and eventually took the opening set in a tense tiebreak.

The Russian appeared to be in control of the second set after opening up a 4-1 advantage. She was also serving for the match at 5-3, but Alexandrova refused to give up and fought back to force another tiebreak.

Andreeva then raised her level, hitting a forehand winner to move 3-2 ahead before taking five of the final six points to secure the victory.

The win also marked Andreeva’s first victory over Alexandrova and earned her a place in her first China Open semi-final.

“I felt like she was playing better, and I did not take my chances. I could have played more aggressively,” Andreeva said after the match.

She praised Alexandrova’s performance and said she was delighted to finally record a win against her compatriot.

Bartunkova advances to first WTA 1000 semi-final

Andreeva will face Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the semi-final after the 20-year-old produced a dominant performance against seventh seed Karolina Muchova.

The 26th-seeded Bartunkova defeated her fellow Czech 6-3, 6-0 in just 67 minutes to reach the last four of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time.

Bartunkova made an impressive start by winning the opening five games and later closed out the match by taking seven games in a row.

Her run in Beijing has already included a major upset, as she defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka in the last 32.

Bartunkova said her preparation included practice matches against leading players such as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, which helped her build confidence ahead of the tournament.

“I didn’t expect these results,” Bartunkova said, adding that her strong preparation had helped her perform with greater confidence.

The Czech player is also guaranteed to make her top-30 debut after the China Open.

Veteran Indian Actor Nana Patekar Dies at 75 Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75 in Goa, marking the end of a career that spanned more than four decades across Indian cinema and theatre. Patekar was reportedly found unconscious at his home in Goa early Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him. Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital in Goa told ANI that Patekar could not be revived despite around 45 minutes of continuous CPR. The actor’s son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed his death to BBC Marathi. Patekar was among India’s most recognisable actors and was particularly admired for his powerful performances, distinctive voice and intense dialogue delivery. He worked extensively in both Hindi and Marathi cinema and remained connected with theatre throughout his career. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences following the actor’s death, praising his versatility and contribution to the arts. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in the popular comedy film “Welcome”, also paid tribute to the veteran performer. Born in Maharashtra in 1951, Patekar began his career in theatre before entering the film industry. He made his film debut with “Gaman” in 1978 and initially appeared in supporting roles. His breakthrough came with the 1989 film “Parinda”, in which he played the character Anna. His performance earned him a National Film Award as well as a Filmfare Award and established him as a major actor in Indian cinema. During the 1990s, Patekar delivered a series of memorable performances in films including “Prahaar”, “Tirangaa”, “Krantiveer” and “Khamoshi”. His role in “Krantiveer” earned him another National Film Award. He also demonstrated his versatility by taking on very different characters. His performance in “Khamoshi” showed a quieter side of his acting, while his role as a politician in Prakash Jha’s 2010 film “Rajneeti” further highlighted his range. Patekar won three National Film Awards during his career for “Parinda”, “Krantiveer” and “Agni Sakshi”. Alongside acting, he worked as a director and writer and remained active in Marathi and Hindi theatre. His well-known stage performances included “Purush” and “Hamidabai Chi Kothi”. Beyond entertainment, Patekar was also involved in social causes, particularly issues affecting farmers. In 2015, he and actor Makarand Anaspure founded the Naam Foundation, which has worked on farmer welfare and water conservation projects in Maharashtra. Patekar’s career also faced controversy. In 2018, actor Tanushree Dutta accused him of sexual harassment over an alleged incident on a film set years earlier. Patekar denied the allegations. In 2019, police closed the case, saying they had not found sufficient evidence to support the allegations. With his distinctive screen presence and decades of work across film and theatre, Nana Patekar leaves behind a lasting legacy in Indian entertainment.

Andreeva beats Alexandrova to reach China Open semi-final

Bartunkova advances to first WTA 1000 semi-final

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