Teen threat Andreeva dispatches Rybakina in Dubai

Mirra Andreeva fought back from 3-1 down in the final set, with the teenager saying she ignored a possible losing outcome as she recovered for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win into the final of the WTA Dubai event on Friday.

The 17-year-old defeated 2020 finalist Elena Rybakina in two and a quarter hours and becomes the youngest finalist at a 1000-level tournament since the category began in 2009.

Andreeva said she let go of any preconceptions while facing down the former Wimbledon champion who beat her in their only previous match last autumn in China.

 “When I lost serve and she was serving, I just thought that I’d had a good run, the match was ok,’ Andreeva said after winning the final five games of the semi-final.

“I let the match go (mentally) but I kept on fighting. When I don’t think about the score, it’s the best way I can play.”

Andreeva broke her Kazakh opponent back for 2-3 and followed with another break to earn a 4-3 lead.

The No. 12 then saved four break points in the next game, holding for 5-3. She advanced a game later on her second match point as Rybakina drove a return long.

“The last time we played she killed me,” the winner said. “I had a lot of opportunities but she didn’t give me a chance.

“Today I tried to accept when things were not going my way. I tried to fight for every point.

“I kept believing and things turned my way.”

Andreeva is the third teenager to reach a 1000 final after Iga Swiatek (Rome, 2021) and Coco Gauff (2023 Cincinnati).

Andreeva accounted for a pair of Grand Slam champions in her fin to the title match, defeating swiatek in the quarters and former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the second round and added 2022 Wimbledon titleholder Rybakina to that list..

 Andreeva is also the youngest player to defeat three Grand Slam champions in a single tournament since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Myskina and Serena Williams at the 2004 WTA Finals Los Angeles.

Andreeva will play for the title on Saturday against another player new to the business end of a big event, Clara Tauson.

The Dane took nearly three hours to outlast Czech Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-7 94), 6-3,  sending down nine aces and breaking four times.

Tauson  – like Andreeva – will be hoping for success in a first final at the 1000 level,

The No. 38 needed a late break in the penultimate game before closing out the marathon semi-final at the Aviation Club.

Tauson will look for her second trophy in as many months after starting 2025 with a title in Auckland.

Main photo:- Mirra Andreeva celebrates after Dubai semi final win – by WTATennis.com