World No. 14 Mirra Andreeva claimed her biggest career title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, defeating fellow first-time WTA 1000 finalist Clara Tauson 7-6(1) 6-1. With this victory, Andreeva not only became the youngest WTA 1000 champion since the format’s introduction in 2009 but also the first 17-year-old to break into the Top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.
At 17 years and 299 days old, Andreeva capped a flawless week in Dubai with six victories, including impressive wins over three Grand Slam champions—Marketa Vondrousova, former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina.
Andreeva started the final with a shaky service game, handing Tauson an early 2-0 lead. However, the teenager quickly regrouped, breaking back immediately. Later into the set, there was another exchange of breaks, this time initiated by Andreeva. Once the set reached a tiebreak, Andreeva took full control and confidently closed out the breaker to secure a hard-fought first set after 61 minutes.
In the second set, Andreeva secured an early break and fended off Tauson’s comeback attempts. The 2023 WTA Newcomer of the Year extended her dominance with another break for 5-1 before confidently closing out the match on her second match point.
With her triumph in Dubai, Andreeva is set to rise from No. 14 to No. 9 in the updated WTA rankings. Additionally, she becomes just the fifth player in the past two decades to win multiple WTA titles before turning 18, joining an elite group that includes Maria Sharapova, Michaella Krajicek, Nicole Vaidisova, and Coco Gauff.
Andreeva claimed the Dubai title in style, sporting the Nike Spring Melbourne Tank and Nike Spring Melbourne Pleated Skirt, paired with the Nike GP Challenge 1 PRM Yellow/Teal Women’s Shoes.
Women’s Tennis Blog