LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Mirra Andreeva matches Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters feats after beating Iga Swiatek to reach Indian Wells final

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Follow us on Google Discover

Mirra Andreeva’s rise to superstardom continues after recording successive wins over Iga Swiatek.

The teenager defeated the World number two on the way to winning the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, but facing her at Indian Wells would prove to be a more difficult task.

But Mirra Andreeva showed no fear against the defending champion, who was trying to become the first woman to win the WTA 1000 event three times.

In a high-quality three-set match, it was Andreeva who outlasted the five-time Grand Slam champion to reach her second consecutive final and a first at Indian Wells.

BNP Paribas Open - Day 10
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Mirra Andreeva matches Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters achievements at Indian Wells

Despite missing an opportunity to serve for the first set after leading 5-4, Andreeva still took the lead following a dominant tiebreak, where she lost just one point.

Not going down without a fight, Swiatek responded emphatically and lost one game on the way to taking the second set.

Andreeva recovered and broke her opponent’s serve twice within the first five games of the set, and held on to complete a 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3 victory.

This win means that Andreeva is just the third player after Maria Sharapova and Nicole Vaidisova to register 10 successive victories on the WTA Tour before turning 21.

Furthermore, the 17-year-old is the youngest player to reach the Indian Wells since Kim Clijsters back in 2001, who was also 17 when she lost to Serena Williams.

BNP Paribas Open - Day 10
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Mirra Andreeva continues longest win streak of her career at Indian Wells

Andreeva’s Indian Wells semi-final victory over Swiatek was her 11th win in a row.

This is the longest win streak of her career and the teenager’s confidence only continues to grow.

If she wants to win her second successive WTA 1000 tournament, Andreeva will need to defeat Aryna Sabalenka, a player she has lost to in four out of five matches.

The Belarusian reached the final after an emphatic victory against Madison Keys for the loss of just one game, gaining some revenge from losing to the American in January’s Australian Open final.