Mirra Andreeva Sweeps Past Elena Rybakina To Become Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist

 

 

Teenager Mirra Andreeva triumphed over another seed at the Dubai Championships, surprising Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 event. The 17-year-old Russian recovered from 1-3 down in the final set to defeat sixth-seeded Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and secure a place in the first WTA 1000 final of her career.

 

Andreeva is the youngest competitor to defeat multiple Grand Slam champions at a tournament of this caliber, having eliminated Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina on her journey to the final. She will compete against Clara Tauson in Saturday’s final after the Danish world No. 38 overcame Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 52 minutes. “Honestly, it’s crazy because at first, I was not very positive before coming to Dubai. I was like, ‘Okay, well, I’m just going to play’,” said Andreeva. “As always, when you don’t think about how you’re going to play, you just play your best tennis.

 

In the end, it’s one of your best tournaments.” Tauson, 22, is experiencing an extraordinary week in which she has triumphed over world number one Aryna Sabalenka. She has now progressed to the most significant final of her career, representing her fifth overall. Tauson has secured a tour-leading 15 victories thus far this season, outpacing Swiatek and Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who both have 14. “Muchova is such a great player. I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how I won today. I tried to keep my cool and play some good tennis,” said Tauson.