Mirra Andreeva of Russia has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to win a WTA 1000 title. The 17-year-old sensation defeated Denmark’s Clara Tauson 7-6(1), 6-1 in a thrilling final at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Andreeva’s journey to the title was nothing short of spectacular. Along the way, she overcame three Grand Slam champions: the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
“I’d set a goal for myself to be in the top 10 by the end of the year. Now it’s the end of February and I’ve already made it, so this is something incredible for me,” Andreeva said after her victory. “I’m just super happy with the way I was playing today. I was very nervous. I think you could see it during the match with all those double faults and some mistakes.”
The match began with Andreeva showing signs of nerves, committing two double faults and falling behind 0-2. However, she quickly regained her composure, leveling the score at 2-2 with powerful shots and precise plays.
The first set was an intense battle, each player showcasing heavy hitting and utilizing the full width of the court. With nothing to separate them, the set headed into a tiebreak. Andreeva, unbeaten in tiebreaks this year, dominated the decider, taking it 7-1 after Tauson sent a return long.
Before the second set, Tauson took a medical timeout. Despite her efforts, Andreeva’s confidence soared as she raced to a 4-1 lead. Guided by her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain, Andreeva dictated the rallies, firing winners and leaving Tauson struggling to keep up.
Andreeva sealed her historic victory when Tauson’s return went long on her second championship point. “I’m just really happy that I could manage and deal with the pressure. Now it just feels amazing,” the Russian teenager expressed. “This is something I dreamt of and now my dream came true. I’m speechless right now.”
With this win, Andreeva not only claims her first WTA 1000 title but also becomes only the second teenager—male or female—to win the Dubai event since its inception in 1993, following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal in 2006.
