Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva has made history at Indian Wells. The 17-year-old became the youngest player since 2001 to reach the women’s final. She achieved this feat after a stunning victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Andreeva’s triumph was even more remarkable because she had also defeated Swiatek in Dubai. That win in February led her to claim her first WTA 1000 title, making her the youngest-ever champion at that level. Now, with an 11-match winning streak, she has shown she is a force to be reckoned with.
Although she dominated the first set, the match took a dramatic turn. Swiatek responded fiercely, dismantling Andreeva 6-1 in the second set. However, the Russian rising star refused to back down, fighting hard to secure a 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 6-3 victory.
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Reflecting on her performance, Andreeva acknowledged the challenge she faced. “After she literally killed me in the second set, I was just ‘well, OK, might just try to fight’,” she said. Despite Swiatek’s dominant play, she remained determined to grind out every point.
Now, a bigger challenge awaits Andreeva in the final. She will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who delivered a ruthless performance against Madison Keys. The Belarusian took just 51 minutes to dismantle the American, winning 6-0 6-1.
Their clash was a rematch of their Australian Open encounter, where Keys had stunned Sabalenka. That defeat ended Sabalenka’s dream of securing a third straight Melbourne title. This time, however, she left no room for an upset.
Sabalenka anticipates final against Andreeva
Sabalenka admitted how much this match meant to her. “That Australian Open match was really heartbreaking for me, and I really needed some time to recover after that,” she said. Determined not to let history repeat itself, she played with focus and hunger.
As the Indian Wells final approaches, all eyes will be on Andreeva. Having defied expectations throughout the tournament, she now faces her biggest test yet. Will she complete her fairytale run, or will Sabalenka’s experience prove too much?
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