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Mirra Andreeva Makes History at Dubai Tennis Championships
In a remarkable achievement, Mirra Andreeva has become the youngest player ever to secure a WTA 1000 title after her victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The 17-year-old Russian talent triumphed over Clara Tauson with a score of 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
This win propels Andreeva into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time, a goal she had set for herself at the beginning of the year. Reflecting on her success, she expressed, “I’d set a goal for myself to be in top 10 by the end of the year. Now it’s the end of February and I’ve already made it, so this is something incredible for me.”
Throughout the tournament, Andreeva’s path to victory was paved with impressive wins against several Grand Slam champions, including Marketa Vondrousova, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina, showcasing her growing prowess on the court.
In the final match against Tauson, the Danish player initially took a 2-0 lead. However, Andreeva demonstrated resilience, quickly breaking back and leveling the score at 2-2. The first set was closely contested, ultimately going to a tiebreak. Andreeva seized control early in the tiebreak, winning the first six points before Tauson’s return went long, giving her the set.
The second set saw Andreeva assert her dominance, racing to a 5-1 lead. With Tauson’s next return also going out, Andreeva secured the title, solidifying her status as a rising star in women’s tennis.
Post-match, Andreeva shared her emotions, saying, “I’m just super happy with the way I was playing. I was nervous. I think you could see it during the match with all those double faults, some mistakes. So I’m just really happy that I could manage and deal with the pressure. And now it just feels amazing.” She added, “This is something I dreamt of and now my dream came true so I’m just, I’m speechless right now.”
Source
www.bbc.com