No. 12 seed Mirra Andreeva stormed previous No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to grow to be the youngest participant ever to achieve the semifinals on the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 17-year-old Russian overcame an early break within the second set to complete the match in a single hour, 36 minutes. It was Andreeva’s fifth profession High 10 win and her second in opposition to a World No. 2 after beating Aryna Sabalenka within the 2024 French Open quarterfinals.
Andreeva’s decisive win Thursday made her the primary participant beneath the age of 18 to defeat Swiatek on the tour stage.
Swiatek, the five-time Grand Slam winner from Poland, received their earlier encounter in three units final yr in Cincinnati.
“Final time we performed was an in depth match and it was robust, it was intense,” Andreeva mentioned. “This time I simply tried to inform myself to go for my photographs, to be aggressive, to not hesitate. I feel that helped me to win in a method.”
Andreeva, who struck 10 aces and saved seven of eight break factors, credited her current work with a psychologist for serving to her deal with a number of high-pressure moments within the match.
“I’ve some new suggestions,” she mentioned. “I’ve some new advices, in a method, learn how to work with my anger inside, what to do after I do not feel nice, learn how to preserve my stage after I really feel nice, learn how to hold being me.”
Andreeva’s semifinal opponent will likely be No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) winner in opposition to Sofia Kenin. Rybakina received the one earlier assembly with Andreeva, a three-setter in Beijing in 2023.
Rybakina, the runner-up in Dubai in 2020, eradicated Kenin in a single hour, 25 minutes. She was main the previous Australian Open champion 3-1 within the second set earlier than holding on for the victory.
“I began the match rather well, however within the second, I misplaced somewhat little bit of focus,” Rybakina mentioned. “My serve did not go (nicely), and Sofia, she’s an important participant — it is at all times troublesome matches in opposition to her, however in the long run, I discovered my recreation and I am actually completely happy that I managed to win in two units.”
Rybakina hammered 17 aces and completed with 45 winners, greater than double Kenin’s complete of 20.
Unseeded Clara Tauson of Denmark will face No. 14 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic within the different semifinal of the WTA 1000 match. Tauson took out Czech Linda Noskova 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Muchova eradicated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 7-5 in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
–Subject Stage Media