INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Young Russian tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva progressed to the final of the BNP Paribas Open by defeating reigning champion Iga Swiatek with a scoreline of 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 in a match characterized by chilly conditions on Friday evening. At just 17 years old, Andreeva has now become the youngest finalist in this tournament since 2001.
Seeded ninth, Andreeva is set to compete against top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka advanced after a decisive victory over fifth-seeded Madison Keys, winning 6-0, 6-1 in a swift 51-minute semifinal.
“I don’t know why, but I just felt incredibly confident,” shared Andreeva, expressing her determined mindset. “I approached the tiebreak as if it was the last tiebreak of my life. I went for every shot, served well, and just felt completely at ease and confident.”
Both Andreeva and Swiatek concluded their match with pullovers due to temperatures dropping into the 50s during the final set. Sabalenka and Keys also played in similar conditions, ending their match in the mid-50s.
Andreeva extended her winning streak to 11 matches, thereby halting Swiatek’s 10-match winning streak in the Californian desert. Previously, Andreeva clinched her first WTA Tour title last month in Dubai, establishing herself as the youngest victor of a WTA 1000 event.
Back in 2001, Kim Clijsters, then also 17, reached the tournament final but lost to Serena Williams. Swiatek, who won the Indian Wells tournament in 2002, entered this year’s event as the second seed.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, broke Keys’ 16-match winning streak and avenged her loss to the American at the Australian Open final. Keys had defeated Sabalenka in three sets earlier this year at Melbourne Park, preventing Sabalenka from securing a third consecutive title.
Commenting on her victory, Sabalenka expressed, “I didn’t anticipate the match to end so quickly. I’m extremely pleased with my performance today — it was a much-needed revenge.”
The men’s semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, where two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, is set to face the 13th-seeded Jack Draper. Additionally, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev will go up against No. 12 Holger Rune.
