In a thrilling match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva made history on a chilly Friday night, advancing to the finals by defeating last year’s champion, Iga Swiatek. At just 17 years old, Andreeva has become the youngest finalist in the tournament since 2001, overcoming Swiatek with scores of 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3.
The young prodigy, who entered the competition as the ninth seed, now faces a formidable challenge in the final against the top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka demonstrated her prowess in a dominant display, defeating Madison Keys with a sweeping 6-0, 6-1 win in her semifinal match.
In a match that began tightly, Andreeva showed exceptional skill in the initial tiebreak, unleashing a triumphant roar when Swiatek’s forehand faltered to give the first set to Andreeva. However, Swiatek wasn’t ready to concede easily, as she charged into the second set, breaking Andreeva’s serve right at the start and claiming the set decisively.
Amidst the dropping temperatures and rising winds of the California desert, Andreeva found her rhythm again as she began the third set by breaking Swiatek’s serve—a decisive momentum shift she capitalized on, especially as both players donned warmer attire in the cooling evening.
Reflecting on her performance, Andreeva shared, “I don’t know why, but I felt an incredible surge of confidence. I approached the tiebreak as if it were the last chance of my life and just went for it. I was serving well and felt extremely at ease.”
Her victory marked the continuation of an impressive 11-match winning streak while simultaneously ending Swiatek’s 10-match supremacy at Indian Wells. Just last month, Andreeva made headlines by clinching her first WTA Tour title in Dubai, staking her claim as the youngest champion at a WTA 1000 event.
Guiding her through this journey is her coach, Conchita Martinez—herself a former Wimbledon champion—whose own history at Indian Wells includes reaching the finals twice. With a chuckle, Andreeva admitted, “I know Conchita didn’t clinch the title in the finals, so I’ll try to outdo her.”
Kim Clijsters was the last 17-year-old to play in the final, back in 2001, when she lost to Serena Williams. Meanwhile, Swiatek, who took the crown in 2022, was hoping to become the first woman to win Indian Wells three times.
For Sabalenka, her sizzling performance against Keys not only extended her winning streak to 16 matches but also served as payback for her loss to the American at the Australian Open final earlier this year. There, Keys had narrowly defeated Sabalenka in a three-set showdown, preventing her from securing a third consecutive title.
Excited about the upcoming face-off against Andreeva, Sabalenka humorously compared the age gap between them, saying, “It feels like an older player going against a youngster. I’m just nine years older than her, which is wild because my sister is just two years younger than her, and I see my sister as a kid.”
Andreeva, still riding high off her victory, is also eager for a chance at redemption after falling to the world No. 1 in the Australian Open’s fourth round. “I’m aiming for revenge, and I’ve got nothing to lose,” she expressed confidently. “It’s going to be an exciting match filled with brilliant plays and lots of winners.”
On the men’s side, tennis fans have an exciting Saturday ahead, with the semifinals featuring two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz facing off against Jack Draper, and Daniil Medvedev taking on Holger Rune. The excitement is palpable as these top-ranked athletes gear up to battle it out for the title.
