Mirra Andreeva Makes History as Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist

17-year-old Mirra Andreeva becomes the youngest player to reach a WTA 1000 final after defeating Elena Rybakina in Dubai.

Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva made history on Friday, becoming the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament after defeating Elena Rybakina at the Dubai Championships. Andreeva, a Russian teenager, fought back from 1-3 down in the deciding set to secure a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over the seventh-seeded Rybakina. This win marked Andreeva's first WTA 1000 final appearance.

Andreeva's impressive run in Dubai has seen her defeat multiple Grand Slam champions, including Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina. This achievement makes her the youngest player to accomplish this feat at a WTA 1000 tournament. Andreeva had previously faced Rybakina in Beijing in 2023, where Rybakina emerged victorious in three sets. Reflecting on that match, Andreeva said, “Last time we played it was a really tough match and I had a lot of opportunities and she as a really experienced player just didn't give me a chance and went for her shots and killed me in the end.”

Andreeva demonstrated her growing experience and maturity in her victory over Rybakina, acknowledging the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to overcome them. “I knew she was going to hit hard and hit big serves. I just tried to accept when things didn't go my way. I fought for every point and kept believing and in the end it went my way,” Andreeva said, highlighting her determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

Mirra Andreeva becomes the youngest player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format’s introduction in 2009.

No words. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/YtM4lZT7jn

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 21, 2025

Mirra Andreeva secured the first break of the match in game five with a powerful backhand return, which helped her take the lead against Elena Rybakina. Despite Rybakina's immediate response, Andreeva regained her advantage and closed out the opening set in 46 minutes.

Rybakina, who had already saved six match points in her previous win over Paula Badosa, was determined to put up a fight against Andreeva. The second set was a closely contested affair, with the pair remaining neck and neck until Rybakina capitalized on Andreeva's double fault to face two set points at 4-5. Andreeva's frustration boiled over, and she bounced the ball off the ground, earning a code violation warning for ball abuse. Rybakina ultimately took the match into a decider with a long defensive forehand from Andreeva, marking the first set Andreeva had dropped in the tournament.

TEENAGE DREAMING! ✨

Mirra Andreeva upsets the Rybakina in a three set thriller to reach her first WTA 1000 final! #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/yqZRa0JFPr

— wta (@WTA) February 21, 2025

In the third set, Rybakina made the first move, breaking for a 3-1 advantage. However, Andreeva responded strongly, sweeping the next five games to secure the win in two hours and 15 minutes. As a result of reaching the final, Andreeva will rise to a career-high ranking of number 11 in the world. If she wins the trophy on Saturday, she could become the first 17-year-old to break into the top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova achieved that feat in 2007.