In a thrilling turn of events at the Dubai Championships, No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek faced off against the rising star, Mirra Andreeva, marking her first loss to a player under 18 on the tour. The match ended with Andreeva stunning Swiatek 6-3, 6-3, securing her spot as the youngest semifinalist in the history of the Dubai Championships, which spans 24 years.
The 17-year-old Andreeva, who previously clashed with Swiatek last August in Cincinnati, showcased impressive skill and resilience. While Swiatek had triumphed in their last encounter, this time Andreeva came back strong, winning five consecutive games after going down a break in the second set.
“I was a bit anxious before the match,” Andreeva admitted, reflecting on her mindset. “But I reminded myself of my performance in our last match and focused on maintaining my aggressive play.”
With this victory, Andreeva notched her fifth win against a top-10 player and her second over a No. 2 player, previously defeating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s French Open quarterfinals.
Next up for the promising teenager is a match against sixth-seeded Elena Rybakina, who outplayed Sofia Kenin with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (2), extending her winning streak to 3-0 against the American.
Meanwhile, Clara Tauson, who triumphed over Sabalenka just days earlier, continued her impressive run, defeating Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach her third semifinal this year. She is set to take on Karolina Muchova, who advanced by eliminating Sorana Cirstea with a score of 6-2, 7-5.
