Boris Becker congratulated Mirra Andreeva on a big comeback in the Dubai semifinal and also remarked that 17-year-old players should “never be underestimated.”
In the semifinal of the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, Elena Rybakina appeared to be cruising toward a comeback win over the Russian after winning the second set – opening a 3-1 lead in the decider – and then having a game point for a 4-1 lead.
But then, the 17-year-old saved that game point – broke the Kazakh – and also won the next four games to complete a 6-4 4-6 6-3 win and become the youngest-ever female player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format was introduced in 2009.
Becker, who was just 17 when he landed his first Grand Slam at 1985 Wimbledon, had a great reaction.
“Never underestimate 17 years old players… Well done Mirra!” the German tennis legend wrote on X.
Never underestimate 17 years old players …
Well done Mirra ! https://t.co/q4q2PswSHQ
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) February 21, 2025
Andreeva completes a win on a major run for a second consecutive match
Before sending Rybakina home, the 12th-seeded Russian also stunned Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-3 in the quarterfinal.
In the second set of that match, the 17-year-old was also 1-3 down in the second before winning the next five games.
After falling 1-3 down to Rybakina in the third set, Andreeva instantly remembered winning the first set of their 2023 Beijing meeting but then the Kazakh storming back to win 2-6 6-4 6-1.
“No, this is not happening again,” the 17-year-old recalled thinking.
“It was a bit hard after the second set. I don’t think I had any break points, but I just felt like I was very close.
“I was right there with her. In the end I had few flashbacks to our last match in 2023. So I was like, ‘No, this is not happening again. Mirra, c’mon.’
“I went to the toilet. I tried to take my time. I tried to think what am I supposed to do. I tried to change something. Then in the end I just kept believing in myself.
“I was like, ‘Well, I won the first set, I was right there with her in the second, didn’t go my way, so I’m just going to keep playing my game. I’m just going to keep putting the ball in, run, fight, do whatever I can.’ In the end it worked somehow. I don’t even know how.”
Tennis World USA