Mirra Andreeva has become one of the youngest players in history to lift the Indian Wells trophy after fighting back from a set down to beat top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Andreeva, who had never won a main draw match at the tournament until this year, battled her way to a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, victory. Claiming her second WTA 1000 title in as many months. It is the second time she has beaten Sabalenka in six Tour-level meetings, losing to her twice earlier this season.
“After the first set, she killed me once again,” the new champion told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t really know what to do. I felt like I was a bit negative with myself because I’ve had a lot of opportunities, and I didn’t convert them.
“So I went for a toilet break, I just tried to think and try to calm myself down. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to say a lot of positive things, even though it was not easy.
“I kind of tried to bring myself back and in the end, it worked.”
No.1 Sabalenka was put through her paces early on in the final, coming back from a 0-30 deficit in her opening service game before saving four break points in her second. As the first set progressed, Sabalenka rapidly took control of proceedings with the use of her firepower and defensive skills. Much to the annoyance of Adreeva who smashed the ground with her racket out of frustration when down 2-4. Two games later, Sabalenka sealed the opener after 37 minutes of play with the help of a deep shot to the baseline that her rival returned into the net.
17-year-old Andreeva, who received a code violation after firing the ball into the stands after losing the opener, gained momentum in the second frame. Trying to mix up her tactics with the use of some moon balls, the Russian broke for the first time to nudge ahead 3-1. Continuing her fightback, Andreeva clinched the second set with the help of a love service game to force a decider.
Despite her inexperience, Andreeva continued to weather the storm in the decisive set which she began by winning three out of the first four games played. Storming to a game away from victory, she sealed the trophy on her first championship point with a forehand winner.
“I would like to thank myself for fighting until the end,” Andreeva commented during the trophy ceremony.
“And for always believing in me and for never quitting.
“I was running like a rabbit because Aryna was sending bullets, and it was really hard to just keep up.
“So I just tried my best and that’s why I would thank myself because I think that I played a little part.”
As for Sabalenka, it is the second time she has had to settle for runner-up in Indian Wells. She has contested three finals so far in 2025, winning Brisbane and then losing to Madison Keys at the Australian Open.
“I kind of have a love-hate relationship with this place,” Sabalenka joked.
“Mirra Congrats on an incredible run. Great tournament. Great Tennis. Congrats on having a great team. If I had the same team that you have at your age I would be a better player by now.
“I have the best team right now. I mean, before, at your age. I was struggling with this (finding the right coach) but you got it so much earlier.”
Andreeva is the third-youngest player to win Indian Wells after Martina Hingis (1998) and Serena Williams (1999). Furthermore, she is the youngest person to beat a world No.1 in a WTA final since 2005. She also beat Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament which makes her the third player to beat the world’s two highest-ranked players at the same tournament before their 19th birthday in the last 40 years.
Andreeva is currently on a 12-match winning streak and has won five out of seven matches against top-10 opposition so far this year. She will rise to sixth in the WTA rankings on Monday.
