Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva delivered an impressive performance at the BNP Paribas Open, overcoming top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka with a comeback victory of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. At just 17 years old, Andreeva becomes the tournament’s youngest champion since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 1999.
With this victory, Andreeva, ranked 11th, improved her season record to 19 wins against 3 losses, making her the most successful woman on tour thus far. This title marks her second Masters 1000 crown of the year, the first being in Dubai in February, which also propelled her into the top 10 for the first time.
Andreeva’s remarkable journey in the tournament will be reflected in the WTA rankings following her victory. After losing the first set, she demonstrated resilience, expressing her frustration by hitting a ball towards the stands. However, her game improved significantly in the second set where she dominated her serve and maintained a strong 17-7 lead in winners, ultimately claiming the set after hitting an ace.
In the decisive third set, Andreeva began impressively, breaking Sabalenka’s serve without dropping a point. The teenager quickly built a 4-2 lead and remained composed, sealing the match with a winner that brought her to her knees in disbelief.
This victory exemplifies a remarkable breakthrough for Andreeva, marking her fifth consecutive win against top-10 ranked opponents and increasing her overall record against such players to 9-5 in 2024 alone. Notably, Andreeva is the first player under 18 to defeat both the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked women at the same WTA tournament since Williams did so in 1999. Additionally, she is the youngest player since Maria Sharapova to win a WTA title by defeating a world No. 1 in a final.
As Andreeva transitions into higher rankings, her achievement at the BNP Paribas Open will surely be a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career.