Mirra Andreeva delivered a stunning upset at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, toppling five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-3 to reach the semifinals. At just 17 years old, Andreeva became the youngest player to advance to this stage since the tournament’s inception in 2001.
The teenage sensation showcased remarkable composure, rallying from a break down in the second set to defeat the tournament’s second seed in one hour and 38 minutes. The world No. 14 broke Swiatek twice in the opening set and, after falling behind 3-1 in the second, stormed through the final five games to seal the victory.
This marks Andreeva’s fifth career win over a Top 10 opponent and her second triumph over a world No. 2, having previously stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros 2024.
With this win, Andreeva advances to her second semifinal at the WTA 1000 level or higher, following her deep run at the French Open last year. It is also her fifth tour-level semifinal overall—an impressive feat for someone so early in their career.
The highly anticipated rematch between Andreeva and Swiatek carried echoes of their first encounter at the 2024 Cincinnati quarterfinals, where Swiatek narrowly edged out a three-set thriller, 4-6 6-3 7-5. Once again, Andreeva struck first by taking the opening set, but this time, she refused to let the favorite mount a comeback, emphatically closing out the match to avenge her previous loss.
With this milestone, Andreeva becomes the first player under 18 to defeat Swiatek at the tour level—yet another indication that the rising star is here to stay.
