Mirra Andreeva becomes youngest player to lift WTA-1000 title, beats Clara Tauson to win Dubai Tennis Championships

The 17-year-old, Mirra Andreeva, defeated the likes of Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina en route to title win.

The record books were rewritten on February 22, as Mirra Andreeva completed an incredible campaign victory, to win her maiden WTA-1000 title. At just 17 years old, she is not only the youngest Dubai champion, but also the youngest ever WTA-1000 winner since the format’s inception.

The Russian came to Dubai on the back of a round-two defeat to a lower ranked opponent in Qatar. However, that did not dampen Andreeva’s spirits coming into the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships. After cruising past her opening round, she met 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová. However, the Czech proved no match losing the last set without claiming a single game.

1 – Since the format’s introduction in 2009, Mirra Andreeva (17 years and 299 days) is the youngest player to win a WTA-1000 event. Champion. #DDFTennis | @DDFTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/bMkKuRxkam

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 22, 2025

The Russian’s biggest test came in the quarter-final clash against five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek. However, the Pole was left stunned as Andreeva crushed her in straight sets. Then 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina took on Andreeva for a spot in the final.

The contest was decided in the third set, with the Kazakh initially earning a break but being broken back by the Russian twice in a row. Andreeva then faced Clara Tauson for ultimate glory. The initial set was extremely intense with either player serving confidently.

She's a teenage sensation 🤩Mirra Andreeva defeats Tauson 7-6(1), 6-1 to be crowned champion in Dubai!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/BvBZTanYYP

— wta (@WTA) February 22, 2025

However, the tiebreak was dominated by the 17-year-old and after that, she totally dominated the battle making life extremely difficult for the Danish, whose dreams of a maiden WTA-1000 title were squashed. Andreeva barged into the top-10 WTA rankings and is currently the new World Number #9, surpassing Emma Navarro and Paula Badosa.

This incredible achievement cemented her place in the history books alongside legends of the game. She is just the second teenager, male or female to claim the singles event victory at the Dubai tennis championships, after Spanish great Rafael Nadal in 2006.

Andreeva, at the age of 17 years and 301 days is the youngest ever to feature in the top-10 rankings since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006. She also holds the record for playing the fewest main draws (11) before a WTA-1000 triumph since Badosa in 2021.

The young sensation’s heroics offer a glimpse into the future of the sport. Just days ago, Joao Fonseca set the record as one of the youngest ATP champions, and now the Russian teen’s stunning victory reinforces that tennis has an exciting and promising future ahead.

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