Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Sunday, 03 May 2026, 18:30 / Updated on Sunday, 03 May 2026 18:30
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend (Czech/USA), the 2nd seeds in the doubles draw from Madrid, prevailed 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the final against the Russian pair of Mirra Andreeva, Diana Shnaider. Andreeva also contested the last act in singles, but was defeated by Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine, 23rd place WTA).
“The tournament is not over, I will try to win the doubles final,” he said Mirra Andreeva on Saturday in the press conference after the final singles event of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid. She had lost there to Marta Kostyuk, 3-6, 5-7, and ended her award ceremony speech in tears.
It was not to be, however, for the Russian teenager, who turned 19 on April 29. A welded couple, with remarkable results together, Siniakova and Townsend controlled the last act at Caja Magica, especially in the second set, one that was almost totally dominated. They thus won the third consecutive trophy, after those at Indian Wells and Miami.
In total, 6 triumphs together, the two reaching their first final, won, at Wimbledon 2024.
28of winning shots was collected by the Siniakova, Townsend pair compared to only 10 of the Andreeva, Shnaider couple
Taylor Townsend: “You can see the difference when ex-players are in charge of tournaments”
The Czech was more laconic in her speech, congratulating the winners and thanking her partner, the audience and the organizers. “What a journey, three titles, amazing. We had a good time and I'm glad you're in the side of the field, thanks for playing with me, I hope we continueSiniakova said.
As usual, Townsend was the most vocal and talkative of them all. “I think Katarina and I are honored to be able to push women's doubles forward, so we thank the public for coming and supporting us from start to finish, it means a lot to us,” said the American.
Mentioning the pageant's co-directors, Garbine Muguruza and Feliciano Lopez, he pointed out that “you always see the difference when former players are in charge of tournaments. You guys know exactly what we need, what makes things run really smoothly and efficiently“.
She didn't leave out her friend Nikki, who was in the lodge either. “He knows nothing about tennis. It's her first tournament and she coached me on the way to the final so not bad for someone who had no idea how to keep scoreTaylor stated amused.
Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider in the final in Madrid Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Mirra Andreeva: “I don't know whether to thank my team”
Before them had spoken the losers, who played in Madrid their first tournament together since 2026. Shnaider spoke briefly and Andreeva did, as she pointed out, “copy-paste after my speech yesterday”, thanking the audience for their presence in the stands and their support.
Then he threw an arrow at those close to him: “It's debatable whether I should really thank my team for helping me lose another final. But there are two finals, a good start on clay in the end. OK, we'll talk about that later”, said Mirra, without crying anymore, like after the last singles act, while her coach, Conchita Martinez did not seem pleased with the public ear of her athlete.
Andreeva became only the third player in the history of the Madrid tournament to play in both the singles and doubles finals. Before her, this was done only by Venus Williams in 2010 and since Victoria Azarenka in 2011. The American was defeated in the singles final by Aravane Rezaibut he prevailed in the doubles, alongside his sister, Serena Williams. Belarus suffered the same fate, being defeated by Petra Kvitova in singles and winning in doubles, alongside Maria Kirilenko.
