Mirra Andreeva enjoyed the best week of her young career at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 17-year-old Russian star performed brilliantly in the Middle East, scoring several impressive wins on her way to a maiden WTA 1000 title.
Andreeva beat Elina Avanesyan in the first round, 6-2, 6-1, as she notched her 18th win at the WTA 1000 level.
She then took down former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and Peyton Stearns, to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Securing one of the biggest wins of her young career, Andreeva beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, advancing to a WTA 1000 semi-final for the first time.
It was there that she faced off against Elena Rybakina, winning in a three-set battle to book her place in the final.
A win against Clara Tauson in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships saw Andreeva lift her first WTA 1000 title.
She will rise to a career-high ranking of ninth on Monday, as one coaching legend now predicts where she’ll finish at the end of 2025.
Rick Macci predicts Mirra Andreeva will finish 2025 ranked inside the WTA top five
Throughout the week, Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci shared his thoughts on the talented Russian star on X.
“Wired for greatness/mentally a cut above,” he said.
“As I said a few years ago [Mirra] Andreeva will be a contender not a pretender in every Slam and will take up residency in the top five this year.
“Near future will visit number one and hang out in that neighborhood for a decade.”
Macci then gave his thoughts on Andreeva’s Slam-winning potential.
“She hits up the line from her ally and behind the baseline the best I have seen for her age,” he said.
“Serve biomechanically correct.
“Backhand a laser and backhand drop crosscourt short angle lands like a butterfly.
“Andreeva knows how to play.
“Multiple Slams on her way.”
After seeing her win the title in Dubai, Macci reiterated his number one prediction.
“She is the real deal and mentally solid as steel,” he said.
“No holes in her game and mentally wired for greatness.
“Russian rocket ready for blast off and coming near a center court near you.
“A future number one on the launching pad.”
Following her WTA 1000 win, Andreeva will shoot up to number nine in the world rankings, a career-high for the teenager.
| Rank | Name | Age | Points |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 26 | 9,076 |
| 2 | Iga Swiatek | 23 | 7,985 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 20 | 6,333 |
| 4 | Jessica Pegula | 30 | 5,196 |
| 5 | Madison Keys | 30 | 4,680 |
| 6 | Jasmine Paolini | 29 | 4,518 |
| 7 | Elena Rybakina | 25 | 4,328 |
| 8 | Qinwen Zheng | 22 | 3,780 |
| 9 | Mirra Andreeva | 17 | 3,720 |
| 10 | Emma Navarro | 23 | 3,704 |
Mirra Andreeva’s iconic Dubai winning speech
Andreeva’s maiden WTA 1000 victory was an iconic one, in part thanks to her post-match speech, where after thanking her team she took the time to thank herself.
“Last but not least, I would like to thank me,” she said.
“I know what I have been dealing with, and I just want to thank me for always believing in me.
“I want to thank me for never quitting and always dealing with the pressure, today it was not easy but I chose to be there 100%, so I thank myself for that and I hope to see you all soon somewhere in the world.”
The new world number nine will now head to the United States for two more WTA 1000 tournaments next month.
Andreeva is yet to win a match at either ‘Sunshine Double’ tournament, losing in the Indian Wells first round last year, on debut.
The 2025 Indian Wells tournament kicks off on March 3, in California.
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