World No2 Iga Swiatek was sensationally knocked-out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in straight sets on Thursday as talented teen Mirra Andreeva made history to book a place in the WTA 1000 semi-final for the first time in her career.
The win saw her become the youngest player to reach the final four since the emirate’s tournament first began in 2001.
When World No1 and top-seed Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the tournament on Wednesday night, Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, looked favourite for a maiden Dubai crown.
Yet less than 24 hours later, the Polish star was also packing her bags after a stunning performance by Andreeva, who claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory to become, at 17 years and 297 days, the youngest semi-finalist in the 25-year history of the Dubai women’s event.
Andreeva, who admitted she was nervous beforehand, struggled in her first service game of the opening set, but managed to save three breakpoints before breaking her opponent’s serve to take the lead.
Covering the court well while also reading Swiatek’s shots, she broke once more with a powerful forehand down the line.
Swiatek rallied to establish a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Andreeva refused to surrender. Following a brief on-court conversation with her coach, the teen went on to win five games in a row to secure the win. The victory proved sweet revenge for the three-set defeat she suffered in her only other meeting with Swiatek in Cincinnati last year.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
