Indian Wells, California – Russian teen star Mira Andreva made it to the BNP Paribas Open Finals, beating defending champions Iga Swiatek 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 in cold conditions on Friday night, becoming the youngest finalist in the tournament since 2001.
The ninth seed, 17-year-old Andreva, faces top seed Arena Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka routed the fifth seeded Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 in the second semi-finals.
After a tight first set, Andreva was perfect with a tiebreak. She made a roar when she seduced a forehand error from Swiatek at the set point. Polish 2nd seed has returned, but invades the first game on the way to escape in the second set.
Andreva, who was studying handwritten notes during a changeover, broke and regained momentum to open the third set as temperatures in the California desert plummeted and wind picked up.
Both Andreeva and Swiatek finished the match wearing Pullovers, soaking the temperature in the 50s in the final set. It was in the mid-50s that Sabalenka finished the key.
“I don’t know why I felt confident. I felt like, ‘I’m going to play a tiebreak like that’s the last tiebreak of my life,'” Andreva said. “So I just went on every shot. My serve was great, I was very comfortable and confident.”
Andreeva reached 11 consecutive Tour winning streaks, running 10 games for the Indian Wells in 10 games for Swiatek. Andreeva won his first WTA Tour title in Dubai last month and became the youngest player to capture the WTA 1000 event.
Andreeva is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
“My coach knows he lost in the final, so I’m going to try and get better than her,” Andreva said with a laugh.
Kim Kleisters was 17 when he lost to Serena Williams in the final in 2001.
Swiatek, who is also the 2022 Indian Wells champion, had bid to become the first woman to win the tournament three times.
Sabalenka ended his 16-match winning streak for the Keys, earning revenge against a loss to the Americans in the Australian Open Finals. The Keys defeated Sabalenka in three sets at Melbourne Park in January, with Sabalenka denying his third consecutive title.
“I didn’t expect this game to be that fast,” Sabalenka said. “I’m very pleased with how I play today – much needed revenge.”
Sabalenka, who reached the Indian Wells Finals in 2023, said she looks forward to playing Andreva, a teenager.
“It feels like an older mom is playing against her kids,” said Sabalenka, 26. “I’m nine years older than her. She’s two years younger than my sister. I watch my sister as a child. It’s crazy.”
The revenge is also in the heart of Andreva, who lost to number one in the world in straight sets in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
“I’m going to get revenge because I still have nothing to lose,” Andreva said. “I think the match is interesting. There are probably a lot of winners, there are a lot of great things.”
In Saturday’s men’s semi-finals, second-time defending champion Carlos Alkaraz (second seed) will face 13th seed Jack Draper, with fifth seed Danil Medvedev playing No. 12 Holga Rune.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.