DAMAGING Russian young gun Mirra Andreeva took out the highest remaining seed at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, with the 17-year-old eliminating world number two Iga Swiatek in the quarter finals overnight. In a match that lasted one hour and 36 minutes, Andreeva closed it out rather easily 6-3 6-3 to advance through to the final four.

Despite still being a teenager, Andreeva has already notched up five career Top 10 victories, the youngest player to notch up that feat in 18 years. The result made up for the Russian 12th seed’s three-set loss against the Pole in Cincinnati last year, where she was a set up and then lead 5-2 in the third before Swiatek slammed on five consecutive games to take out the match, 4-6 6-3 7-5.

“Last time we played was a close match and it was tough, it was intense,” Andreeva said post-match. “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.”

There was no such problem for Andreeva in Dubai however, with the teenager smashing her way past Swiatek in straight sets with a ridiculous ratio of 34 winners to 13 unforced errors, while the number two looked helpless at times to find an answer, finishing with 29 and 31 respectively.

Putting down 10 aces to nil, Andreeva won 73 and 61 per cent of her first and second serve points in the victory. She saved seven of eight break points, while being able to convert four from the same amount of chances. In the 6-3 6-3 victory, Andreeva won 11 of the 16 pressure points and belted 13 winners off her forehand and 10 off her backhand in a brilliant all-round game.

Andreeva also explained that she had been working with a psychologist on how to deal with pressure moments or setbacks, which helped in her successful work during big points.

“I have some new tips,” she said. “I have some new advices, in a way, 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, how to keep being me.

“For example when it was 1-1, I was serving. When she broke me, she did three return winners. There was not much I could do about it. I just had to accept it. Been also working on acceptance when something doesn’t go my way.

“I felt like it was out there on the court that I felt like still 1-3, but I feel strong. I feel like I’m still right there with her. Just thought that, OK, it’s going to take some time but I’m going to go back and I’m going to try to come back and win the second set.”

Andreeva advances through to the semi-finals where she takes on Kazakhstan sixth seed Elena Rybakina after the Grand Slam champion saw off another major winner in American wildcard Sofia Kenin, 6-2 7-6. In the other two quarter finals, Dane Clara Tauson accounted for Czech Linda Noskova 7-6 6-4, and will take on another Czech in 14th seed Karolina Muchova who got past Romanian wildcard Sorana Cirstea in straight sets, 6-2 7-5.

2025 DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS WTA1000 – QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[12] Mirra Andreeva (RUS) defeated [2] Iga Swiatek (POL) 6-3 6-3
[6] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated [WC] Sofia Kenin (USA) 6-2 7-6
[14] Karolina Muchova (CZE) defeated [WC] Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-2 7-5
Clara Tauson (DEN) defeated Linda Noskova (CZE) 7-6 6-4