Mirra Andreeva Holds Off Elena Rybakina To Become Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist
NDTV
Teenager Mirra Andreeva toppled another seed at the Dubai Championships, upsetting Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament.
Teenager Mirra Andreeva toppled another seed at the Dubai Championships, upsetting Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament. The Russian 17-year-old fought back from 1-3 down in the deciding set to beat seventh-seeded Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and move into the first WTA 1000 final of her career. Andreeva is the youngest player to beat multiple Grand Slam champions at a tournament of this level. She has ousted Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina, en route to the final.
She awaits Clara Tauson or Karolina Muchova in Saturday's championship match.
The players had met once before, in Beijing in 2023, when Rybakina won in three sets.
"Last time we played was a really tough match," said Andreeva.
"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."
