Mirra Andreeva survives match with "bullsh*t" smell, "I’m going to lose" mentality to reach Madrid quarterfinals

Mirra Andreeva reached her third consecutive Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinal on Monday, after coming through an emotional rollercoaster lasting nearly three hours.

The No. 9 seed has now taken out Hungary’s top-three ranked players in succession. After defeating Panna Udvardy and Dalma Galfi, Andreeva edged out Anna Bondar for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory. But it’s what was said during the contest on Court 3 that will be most remembered from this day.

Serving at 2-2, 40-40 in the second set, Andreeva approached chair umpire Jennifer Zhang to note an odor behind her end of the court.

“It literally smells like bullshit over there. Like very bad,” she said.

Ironically, the 18-year-old took control for a lengthy stretch after that brief exchange. Andreeva won nine of the next 11 games, as she looked to up her season record on clay to 10-1.

Then, things went south. Andreeva dropped the next five games, which included a missed match point on Bondar’s serve at 5-3. Taking a seat before needing to hold serve to force a tie-break, Andreeva told her team, “I'm not a champion. I'm not a champion,” in raising her hand with a no.

“I'm going to lose. I'm going to lose.”

Somehow, the two-time WTA 1000 champion kept things together just enough. The next seven points went her way, changing sides in the ‘breaker with a 4-2 lead. Bondar erased the mini break with a backhand winner and then again at 4-6 when Andreeva poorly cut a backhand drop shot.

Finally, on her third match point, Andreeva crossed the finish line by unloading on her opponent’s second serve for a clean backhand return winner up the line. Tears, perhaps more of relief than joy, emerged following the pair’s handshake.

Looking to advance beyond the last eight at the Caja Mágica for the first time, Andreeva next meets Leylah Fernandez. The No. 24 seed dismissed Ann Li, 6-3, 6-2, to book her first 1000-level quarterfinal since the 2024 Cincinnati Open.