INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Rising Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva made headlines by storming into the BNP Paribas Open final, overcoming defending champion Iga Swiatek with a thrilling score of 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 on a brisk Friday night. With this victory, she becomes the youngest finalist at this prestigious tournament since 2001.
The 17-year-old Andreeva, who is seeded ninth, is set to compete against the top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match. Sabalenka showcased her dominance by dismantling fifth-seeded Madison Keys in just 51 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-1 in the other semifinal.
“I’m not sure where this surge of confidence came from. I just thought, `I’ll treat this tiebreak like it’s the last one I’ll ever play,’” Andreeva shared. “I went for every shot. My serve was exceptional, and I felt incredibly at ease and confident.”
Both Andreeva and Swiatek concluded the match wrapped in pullovers, as the temperature dropped into the low 50s during the final set. Sabalenka also played in similar chilly conditions as she triumphed over Keys.
With this victory, Andreeva extended her winning streak on the tour to 11 matches, putting an end to Swiatek’s impressive 10-match run in the California desert. Just last month, the Russian captured her first WTA Tour title in Dubai, making history as the youngest player to win a WTA 1000 event.
For a historic comparison, Kim Clijsters was also 17 in 2001 when she faced Serena Williams in the final.
Swiatek, the reigning Indian Wells champion from 2022, entered the tournament as the second seed.
In the other semifinal, Sabalenka avenged her earlier loss to Keys at the Australian Open by snapping the American’s impressive 16-match winning streak. Keys had previously defeated Sabalenka in a gripping three-set match in Melbourne, denying her a third consecutive title.
“I did not anticipate such a quick match,” Sabalenka exclaimed. “I’m absolutely thrilled with my performance today – it was the revenge I needed.”
This Saturday, the men’s semifinals will see two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, go up against 13th-seeded Jack Draper, while fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev faces off against No. 12 Holger Rune.
