Mirra Andreeva stuns Iga Swiatek to reach Dubai semi-finals

Teenager Andreeva upsets Swiatek to become youngest Dubai semi-finalist.

Mirra Andreeva in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the quarterfinal on Day Five of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, on February 20, 2025, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

By Yuni Utomo and Randy Ahmad

Mirra Andreeva delivered a stunning performance at the Dubai Championships, defeating second seed Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to become the youngest woman to reach the tournament’s semi-finals. The 17-year-old Russian, ranked 14th in the world, attributed her victory to improved mental strength, crediting work on controlling her "anger inside" for the breakthrough win.

Andreeva’s victory, secured in one hour and 36 minutes, continued the trend of top seeds falling in Dubai. She rallied from a break down in the second set to claim her fifth career win over a Top 10 player, making her the youngest player to achieve that feat since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.

Reflecting on her victory, Andreeva said she focused on staying aggressive and maintaining belief in her shots. "Last time we played was a close match and it was tough, it was intense," she said, referencing her three-set loss to Swiatek in Cincinnati last year. "This time I just tried to tell myself to go for my shots, to be aggressive, to not hesitate. I think that helped me to win in a way."

Andreeva’s mental strength proves decisive

Andreeva also revealed she has been working with a psychologist to improve her on-court composure. "I’ve been learning how to work with my anger inside, what to do when I don’t feel great, how to maintain my level when I feel great, and how to keep being me," she said.

Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, struggled throughout the match, failing to convert seven break points before finally taking Andreeva’s serve for a 3-1 lead in the second set. However, the young Russian responded with remarkable composure, winning the next five games to seal the victory.

Swiatek committed 33 unforced errors, admitting afterward that she never found her rhythm. "I wasn't really sure where my ball was going to go," the 23-year-old said. "Mirra is a good player. I already could see that before when we practised and when we played in Cincinnati. It's not like I can win against her when I play worse."

Swiatek struggles as top seeds fall in Dubai

Swiatek’s early exit marked another disappointing result following her semi-final defeat at last week's Qatar Open, where she was swept aside by Jelena Ostapenko.

"For sure I’m not happy with the results," Swiatek said. "There were some things missing that should have been there."

Her loss adds to the list of top seeds eliminated in Dubai, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, third seed Coco Gauff, fourth-seeded defending champion Jasmine Paolini, and fifth seed Jessica Pegula.

Andreeva to face Rybakina in semi-finals

Andreeva will next face sixth seed Elena Rybakina, who advanced with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Sofia Kenin. Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament and has reached the Dubai semi-finals for the first time since 2020.

Meanwhile, Clara Tauson, ranked 38th in the world, also secured a semi-final berth by defeating Czech Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Tauson had previously eliminated Sabalenka in the round of 16, continuing her strong run in Dubai.

Tauson, set to play in her first WTA 1000 semi-final, admitted she was surprised by her consistency. "I was texting one of my best friends, ‘I had a great match today, I’m for sure going to play bad tomorrow,’" she said. "But I didn’t. I’m really happy about that. Otherwise, I would have lost for sure."

Tauson will face either Karolina Muchova or Sorana Cirstea in the semi-finals as the Dubai Championships continue to deliver upsets and breakout performances.