DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a thrilling showdown at the Dubai Championships, Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva etched her name in history by becoming the youngest player to advance to the final of a WTA 1000 event. The 17-year-old exhibited remarkable skill and determination, overcoming sixth-seeded Elena Rybakina with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday.
Facing a 3-1 deficit in the deciding set, Andreeva showcased her fighting spirit by clinching the next five games, marking her second appearance in a tour-level final. This rising star previously secured the title at the Iasi Open in Romania last July.
As she gears up for the final, she awaits a challenging opponent: either Clara Tauson, the Danish player who sensationally eliminated top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, or Karolina Muchova.
Andreeva’s remarkable journey in Dubai has seen her triumph over seasoned champions, including Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, and Marketa Vondrousova. With these impressive victories, she becomes the youngest player since Maria Sharapova in 2004 to defeat three Grand Slam winners in a single tournament.
