17-year-old Mirra Andreeva scripts history to become youngest WTA 1000 champion

Mirra Andreeva beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (1), 6-1 in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, February 22, to become the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion at the age of 17.

In Short

• Mirra Andreeva won the Dubai Tennis Championships
• Andreeva beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (1), 6-1
• Andreeva will also make her top 10 debut in the rankings

17-year-old Mirra Andreeva scripted history after becoming the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion since the introduction of the format back in 2009. On Saturday, February 22, the teenager won the Dubai Tennis Championships after beating Clara Tauson 7-6 (1), 6-1 in the grand finale.

She also became the fifth player to win her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai. The others are Venus Williams (2009), Elina Svitolina (2017), Barbora Krejcikova (2023) and Jasmine Paolini (2024). After her dream run, Andreeva will also make her debut in the top 10 of the WTA rankings at No.9 when the new rankings come out.

"I'd set a goal for myself to be in top 10 by the end of the year. Now it's the end of February, and I've already made it, so this is something incredible for me. I'm just super happy with the way I was playing today. I was hella (very) nervous. I think you could see it during the match with all those double faults, some mistakes,” Andreeva said.

Andreeva punched above her weight to beat three Grand Slam champions; Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova and Elena Rybakina on her way to winning the tournament.

"So I'm just really happy that I could manage and deal with the pressure. And now it just feels amazing... This is something I dreamt of and now my dream came true so I'm just, I'm speechless right now. Lastly, I want to thank me for never quitting and always believing in myself,” Andreeva added.

Andreeva found herself in early trouble after dropping her serve to go 0-2 down, but earned the break to make it 2-2 and took the set into a tie-breaker. Andreeva stayed unbeaten in tie-breaks this year, winning the first six points.

The second set was a completely one-sided affair as Andreeva stormed to a 5-1 lead. During this while, Tauson took a medical time-out and also threw her racket on the ground in frustration. Sensing victory, Andreeva stepped up to serve for the title and clinched it as Tauson's return sailed long on her second championship point.