Mirra Andreeva stunned the tennis world once again, coming from behind to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open held at Indian Wells on March 16, 2025. The 17-year-old’s victory not only marks her second consecutive WTA 1000 title but also solidifies her status as one of the brightest upcoming stars on the tour.
Andreeva, who won her maiden 1000 title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships just weeks earlier, displayed remarkable resilience after losing the opening set. “I didn’t feel relaxed. The whole match I felt super nervous,” she reflected after the victory. “After the first set, I just realized, oh well, what I do now, it doesn’t work, so I have to change something.”
Indeed, change she did. The young Russian began the second set with renewed aggression, breaking Sabalenka's serve early on. “I tried to play a bit more aggressive,” she mentioned. “I didn't try to overhit her because I don't think anyone can overhit Aryna; she's a super-powerful player.” She methodically wore down the Belarussian’s defenses, taking the set and gaining momentum going forward.
Sabalenka, who had initially dominated the match and won the first set quite comfortably within 37 minutes, was taken by surprise by Andreeva's resurgence. The turning point came when Andreeva broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, which she managed to consolidate to take the match to the decisive third set.
Motivated by confidence, Andreeva surged again, breaking for the 1-0 lead. Despite Sabalenka pulling back to level the set at 1-1, Andreeva bounced back, breaking Sabalenka once more to seize control. The match ended after just over two hours of play, with Andreeva demonstrating her poise and clarity under pressure.
After her victory, Andreeva thanked herself humorously, saying, “I would again like to thank myself for fighting until the end and for always believing in me and for never quitting.” Her playful comments brought laughter from the crowd, showing not only her talent but also her charismatic personality.
On the other hand, the world’s top-ranked player, Sabalenka, recognized her mistakes during the match. “It was me against me. I made a lot of unforced errors on important points, and I just let her play a little bit Better,” she lamented. Sabalenka brought levity to her post-match speech as well, jokingly stating, “I will let her enjoy the beautiful trophy. No, I’m kidding.”
With this win, Andreeva has now won 12 consecutive WTA 1000 matches, and she will enter the Miami Open next week as one of the top favorites. Following this victory, she is poised to reach her career-high ranking of No. 6.
Andreeva's accomplishment of defeating both World No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek earlier to reach the final adds another feather to her impressive cap, making her the youngest player to defeat both top seeded competitors since the WTA rankings were established. Her current season record stands at 19-3, leading the WTA Tour for match victories this year.
Mirra Andreeva’s win at Indian Wells marks not only a significant milestone in her burgeoning career but also sets the stage for her potential rise as a future Grand Slam champion. With comparisons to legends like Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams growing louder, Andreeva's success sparks excitement about her future endeavors on the court.
Looking forward, Andreeva expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “If it's happening fast, I take it, you know. There is nothing bad I can say about it.” The anticipation is palpable as fans and analysts alike await her performance at the upcoming Miami Open on March 18, where she seeks to make it three WTA 1000 titles in succession.
