Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva pulled off a surprising upset on the Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships, defeating sixth seed Elena Rybakina within the semifinals to turn out to be the youngest participant ever to succeed in a WTA 1000 remaining because the format’s inception in 2009.
Already the youngest semifinalist within the match’s historical past, Andreeva took issues a step additional with a hard-fought 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over the 2022 Wimbledon champion. After dropping the second set that went with serve till the ultimate recreation, the No.12 seed discovered herself trailing 1-3 within the decider. Nevertheless, the rising star flipped the momentum, breaking Rybakina’s serve 3 times to seal the large win.
Andreeva now joins an elite group, turning into simply the third teenager to succeed in a WTA 1000 remaining—following within the footsteps of Iga Swiatek (2021 Rome) and Coco Gauff (2023 Cincinnati). This marks her third tour-level remaining after profitable her maiden title in Iasi final July and ending runner-up in Ningbo final October.
Andreeva’s path to the Dubai remaining has been nothing wanting extraordinary. Alongside the way in which, she took down former world No. 1 and five-time main winner Iga Swiatek within the quarterfinals and 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova within the second spherical. With these victories, she turns into the youngest participant to defeat three Grand Slam champions in a single match since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova achieved the feat on the 2004 WTA Finals.
Her stellar run in Dubai ensures a brand new career-high rating. If she finishes as runner-up, she is going to rise from her present No. 14 to No. 11. Nevertheless, if she claims the title by defeating Clara Tauson within the remaining, she is going to break into the Prime 10—turning into the youngest participant to take action since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007. (supply: WTA)
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