Why Mirra Andreeva can be the 'next big thing' in women's singles tennis?

Mirra Andreeva is the only teen among the WTA Top 100.

Mirra Andreeva gave the tennis world a glimpse of her talent and what was to come when she made the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2023. It was just her second Grand Slam event. The Russian made her way into the top 60 by September, the youngest player in the WTA to achieve the feat.

Mirra Andreeva gained direct entry into the Madrid Open in April 2024, where she made the last eight before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. The teen prodigy pulled off a coup at the French Open the following month when she defeated Sabalenka in the quarter-finals to become the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist in close to three decades. Martina Hingis was 16 when she reached the semi-final round at Roland Garros and the US Open in 1997.

Also Read: How much did winner Mirra Andreeva earn in prize money at Dubai Tennis Championships 2025?

Andreeva continued her ascent through the rankings when she won the Iasi Open in Romania and reached the Ningbo Open finals to finish the year in the top 20, coming in at World No. 16. She has gone from relative unknown to earning her place in the spotlight, drawing praise from Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev along the way.

Here’s why Andreeva will be the player to watch in the 2025 season despite not being old enough to drive. The Russian has gone from a player with the potential to have a seat at the table with the best players in the WTA.

Also Read: Top five players who have withdrawn from Merida Open 2025

Sole teenager in the WTA Top 100

Among Mirra Andreeva’s unique distinctions is being the only teenager among the top 100 in the WTA Rankings. It was a breakthrough for the then 16-year-old, who jumped 36 spots after making the round of 16 in Wimbledon to reach the No. 66 position. After making the top ten this week, coming in at World No. 9, the Russian teen has a new goal – to breach the top five by the end of the season.

Youngest WTA 1000 winner since the format’s inception in 2009

Even as the favourites to win the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships made early exits, Andreeva worked her way through the field to win the title. She dropped just one set during the week when playing against Elena Rybakina in the last four. By defeating Kazakh, Mira becomes the youngest finalist at the WTA 1000 event. 

She had one more record left to break in the Middle East, which she did by defeating Clara Tauson of Denmark to clinch the biggest title of her career. Along with the trophy, she became the youngest winner of a WTA 1000 event since the format’s introduction in 2009. 

Also Read: Full list of events in WTA calendar 2025

Third youngest player to make a top ten debut since 2000

Andreeva is among the youngest players since 2000 to enter the WTA Top 10. Maria Sharapova heads the list on making the top ten in 2004 at 17 years and 77 days. Nicole Vaidisova joined Sharapova in 2006 at 17 years and 106 days. Mirra Andreeva, the latest to join the club, is the third-youngest player to achieve the feat at 17 years and 301 days.  

Youngest winner of the Dubai Tennis Championships in event history

In her journey towards becoming a certifiable star, Andreeva has joined Iga Swiatek at 2021 Rome and Coco Gauff at 2023 Cincinnati as the third teenager to make the final of a WTA 1000 event.

Triumph at the 2025 edition of the Dubai Championships adds another feather to Mirra Andreeva’s cap. She scored victories over Marketa Vondrousova, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina, all Grand Slam title holders, to become the youngest winner in the history of the event. 

Mirra Andreeva is now the second teenager, male or female after Rafael Nadal took the win in 2006 to claim the singles event in Dubai. 

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