Russian Teenager Dominates World Number Two in Straight Sets to Advance
Mirra Andreeva delivered a career-defining performance on Thursday, defeating world number two Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 to reach her first-ever WTA 1000 semi-final at the Dubai Duty Free Championships. The 17-year-old Russian showcased her aggressive playstyle, dismantling the top seed with confidence to mark her first victory over Swiatek.
Seeded 12th in the tournament, Andreeva’s triumph makes her the youngest player to reach the Dubai semi-finals since the event’s inception in 2001. Her journey this year is a stark contrast to her previous appearance, where she was eliminated in the opening round. Meanwhile, Swiatek’s defeat follows the early exit of world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who was knocked out a day earlier.
Speaking after her win, Andreeva admitted she felt nervous before stepping onto the court, recalling her previous encounter with Swiatek in Cincinnati last year, where she lost a tight quarter-final battle. “I just reminded myself that I was playing well and needed to stay aggressive, take my chances, and trust my shots,” she said. “The crowd was amazing, and I felt like the support was evenly split.”
The match began with Andreeva struggling to hold serve in her first service game, but she quickly recovered to level at 1-1. Finding her rhythm, she broke Swiatek’s serve twice in the opening set, securing the lead with a precise forehand winner down the line.
Despite trailing 3-1 in the second set, Andreeva regained control after a brief conversation with her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez. The teenager stormed back to win five consecutive games, breaking Swiatek in the penultimate game before sealing victory as the Pole’s return sailed wide on match point.
“Conchita didn’t say anything I didn’t already know,” Andreeva said with a smile. “She just reminded me to keep playing my game, stay aggressive, and not overthink things.”
With her remarkable run in Dubai, Andreeva now looks ahead to her semi-final match, where she hopes to continue her momentum and chase her first WTA 1000 title.
