INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — In a stunning upset, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva from Russia beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open. This victory makes Andreeva the youngest champion of the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.
With this win, Andreeva now boasts a remarkable 19-3 record this season, leading all women on tour. This is her second Masters 1000 title this year, having won in Dubai earlier, which also marked her rise into the top 10 of the WTA rankings.
Andreeva reflected on her journey to victory, sharing her gratitude in a heartfelt speech. “I want to thank myself for fighting until the end and for believing in me,” she said. She also commended Sabalenka’s speed, recognizing the challenge of keeping up with her powerful shots. “I tried my best, and I think it helped me win,” she noted.
In the men’s final, 23-year-old Jack Draper clinched his first Masters 1000 title by defeating Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2. Draper, who upset two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, is now on track to break into the ATP’s top 10 for the first time.
After a rough start, with Andreeva losing the first set against sabalenka, she turned things around in the second, outpacing her opponent in winners. A strong serve allowed her to secure the second set, and she continued her momentum into the third, breaking Sabalenka at love right at the start.
This match marked Andreeva’s fifth win against a top-10 player and brought her record to 9-5 against such opponents this year. “Congrats on an incredible run,” Sabalenka acknowledged during the trophy ceremony.
Interestingly, Andreeva is the first player under 18 to defeat both the No. 1 and No. 2 players at the same tournament since Williams did it in 1999. She’s also the youngest to claim a WTA title by beating a No. 1 ranked player since Maria Sharapova in 2005.
After the match, Andreeva humorously apologized for her nerves before the game, saying she felt like a “little brat.” Sabalenka, who lost in the finals here last year too, joked about her love-hate relationship with the event as she accepted her runner-up trophy.
As women’s tennis continues to gain momentum, Andreeva’s rise is a clear indication of the growing talent in the sport. The New York Times reported that interest in women’s tennis is surging, with attendance and viewership numbers on the rise, driven by young up-and-coming stars like Andreeva and seasoned players like Sabalenka.
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