Mirra Andreeva turned the youngest participant to win a WTA 1000 title when the 17-year-old beat Clara Tauson 7-6(1) 6-1 within the Dubai Tennis Championships ultimate on Saturday.
The precocious Russian, who beat three Grand Slam champions — Marketa Vondrousova, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina — to succeed in the ultimate, will make her top-10 debut within the rankings subsequent week.
“I’d set a purpose for myself to be in prime 10 by the tip of the yr. Now it’s the tip of February and I’ve already made it, so that is one thing unimaginable for me,” Andreeva mentioned.
“I’m simply tremendous pleased with the way in which I used to be taking part in right this moment. I used to be hella (very) nervous. I believe you may see it through the match with all these double faults, some errors.
“So I’m simply actually joyful that I may handle and cope with the stress. And now it simply feels superb… That is one thing I dreamt of and now my dream got here true so I’m simply, I’m speechless proper now.”
Tauson raced into an early lead on the again of a robust service sport whereas Andreeva made two double faults to rapidly discover herself 2-0 down however the Russian rapidly recovered and started taking part in her pictures, breaking again to degree at 2-2.
Each gamers quickly discovered their vary with some heavy hitting, utilizing the total width of the court docket to enthral the group. With nothing to separate the pair, the opening set went to a tiebreak.
Andreeva has but to lose a tiebreak this yr and she or he was near-perfect as she received the primary six factors earlier than taking the opening set when Tauson despatched a return lengthy.
Tauson took a medical timeout earlier than the second set and she or he was annoyed to lose the primary sport, throwing her racket on the bottom. Regardless of a few chic drop pictures from the Danish participant, Andreeva grew in confidence to take a 4-1 lead.
Andreeva, who’s coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, then dictated rallies and started grinding down her opponent, firing winners with emphatic overhead smashes that left Tauson deflated because the Russian teenager went 5-1 up.
Andreeva smelled victory as she served for the title and sealed it when one other Tauson return went lengthy on her second championship level.
Andreeva additionally broke new floor as solely the second teenager — male or feminine — to win the Dubai occasion since its inception in 1993, after Rafa Nadal in 2006.
“Lastly, I wish to thank me for by no means quitting and all the time believing in myself,” a beaming Andreeva mentioned after she lifted up the trophy.
