*** Mirra Andreeva becomes the youngest WTA 1000 champion | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Mirra Andreeva becomes the youngest WTA 1000 champion

AFP | Dubai
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Teenager Mirra Andreeva made history at the Dubai Championships, defeating Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament.

The 17-year-old Russian fought back from 1-3 down in the final set to secure a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory, marking her first WTA 1000 final appearance.

Andreeva has become the youngest player to defeat multiple Grand Slam champions in a tournament of this caliber, having already ousted Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina.

Reflecting on her success, Andreeva said, “Honestly, it’s crazy because at first, I wasn’t very positive before coming to Dubai. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m just going to play’."

She will face Clara Tauson in yesterday’s final after the Danish world number 38 defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in a two-hour 52-minute battle.

Tauson, 22, is having a breakthrough week, having previously knocked out world number one Aryna Sabalenka. This is her fifth career final and the biggest one yet.