Teen sensation Andreeva goes past defending champion Swiatek, sets up final clash vs Sabalenka

Russian teen sensation Mirra Andreeva blew away defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3 to reach the Indian Wells final on Saturday where she will meet top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who avenged her Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys with a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing.
“Really tough match, tough conditions,” said the 17-year-old who is gunning for her second straight WTA 1000 title following her win in Dubai last month.
“I tried to really hang in there. It was not easy, but I’m super happy with the win today and I can’t wait to play finals on Sunday,” added Andreeva.
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After a tight first set, Andreeva was flawless in the tiebreak, leaning over and letting out a roar when she enticed a forehand error from Swiatek on set point.
The Polish second seed stormed back in the second set, breaking in the first game and levelling the contest when Andreeva’s backhand went wide.
Andreeva, who was studying handwritten notes during the changeovers, grabbed the momentum back breaking to open the third set as temperatures in the California desert plummeted and the wind picked up.
The loss ends five-time major champion Swiatek’s bid to become the first woman to win the tournament in the Southern California desert three times.Story continues below this ad
Revenge
In the other semi-final, a ruthless Sabalenka needed just 52 minutes to get payback for her loss to Keys in the Melbourne Park final in January.
A Keys double fault handed Sabalenka a 4-0 lead in the opener and the Belarusian rolled through the set with ease despite windy conditions.
The crowd erupted when Keys won her first game of the match to cut Sabalenka’s lead to 5-1 in the second but that would be it for the American, who hit a backhand into the net on match point.
“I didn’t expect that match to be that fast but I’m super happy,” Sabalenka said. “Much needed revenge.”Story continues below this ad
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, who reached the Indian Wells final in 2023, said she was looking forward to playing the teenager.
“It feels like old mama playing against the kid,” said 26-year-old Sabalenka. “I’m like what, nine years older than her? She is two years younger than my ser and I look at my ser as a kid. It’s crazy.”
Big clash awaits in Men’s Semis
In the men’s semi-final, Danish Holger Rune will face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev while Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz will be up against English Jack Draper on Sunday (March). The women’s final will be played on the same day.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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