How Dubai helped Mirra Andreeva’s rise to the WTA Top 10

Dubai: When Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva arrived in Dubai earlier this year, she carried a simple dream: to sit beside a champion’s trophy and speak at her own press conference. That dream became reality when she defeated Clara Tauson in straight sets to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

At just 17 years and 299 days old, Andreeva became the youngest WTA 1000 finalist and champion since the format was introduced in 2009. The victory propelled her into the world’s top 10, making her the first 17-year-old to reach that milestone since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.

After her triumph, Andreeva expressed her joy on social media, writing: “Thank you Dubai. Feels so special to win my first WTA 1000 title.” The win not only elevated her global profile but also boosted her confidence against the sport’s elite. Two weeks later, she captured a second consecutive WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells, defeating Aryna Sabalenka with remarkable composure to secure back-to-back crowns.

As the 2025 WTA season concludes, the 18-year-old stands as one of the year’s defining stories, finishing at a career-high World No. 9. It marks a significant leap from her No 16 year-end ranking in 2024 and highlights her steady rise into the sport’s top tier.

Her breakout year underscored both her own rapid development and the pivotal role played by the Dubai Tennis Championships, the stage where her climb toward the game’s summit accelerated last February. Throughout 2025, Andreeva showcased mature baseline consistency, intelligent shot selection, and impressive mental resilience. Though she narrowly missed qualifying for the WTA Finals, she delivered a series of deep tournament runs and cemented her status as one of the most composed young competitors on the Tour.

Andreeva’s win added another distinguished chapter to the legacy of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that has long attracted the sport’s biggest names — from Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, and Justine Henin to today’s stars like Sabalenka, Świątek, and Coco Gauff.

Looking ahead, the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will once again bring world-class tennis to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. The 26th edition of the women’s WTA 1000 event will run from February 15—21, followed by the ATP 500 men’s tournament from February 22—28.

Fans can expect another stellar lineup, featuring many of the world’s top 20 players — including reigning champion Andreeva — alongside Sabalenka, Świątek, Gauff, and more.