Nearly blown off the court in the opening set of the Indian Wells final by World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva was visibly frustrated early in the second set, displaying typical teenage reactions. She shook her head, rolled her eyes, hunched her shoulders, and spoke sharply to her team at courtside.

This behavior was not new to them, having witnessed similar displays earlier in the day.

However, just over an hour later, with the BNP Paribas Open trophy in her grasp, Andreeva offered an apology to her coach, Conchita Martinez.

“I know, as I often say, I can be challenging, and today was no exception,” Andreeva admitted at the post-match ceremony. “I know I was, as you might say, ‘a little brat’ this morning.”

“That’s because I was extremely nervous, and I apologize for that.”

All was forgiven.

Andreeva gradually and decisively took control of the match against Sabalenka. By the end, it was Sabalenka who appeared agitated, talking to herself, gesturing wildly, and hitting erratic, unbalanced shots. Andreeva emerged victorious with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday afternoon—a win that could potentially redefine the hierarchy of the Hologic WTA Tour.

During her impressive run in Indian Wells, Andreeva defeated the top-ranked Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Swiatek, and No. 7 Elena Rybakina. Notably, she also overcame Swiatek and Rybakina en route to her title victory last month at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Andreeva is still only 17 years old. As the match progressed, her composure and self-assurance returned. The magnitude of the moment, perhaps the biggest in her young career, did not overwhelm her.

Context is crucial, and Andreeva’s achievements invite remarkable comparisons. She is:

  • The youngest player to defeat the World No.1 and No.2 in a single WTA event since 16-year-old Tracy Austin in 1979 at Filderstadt.
  • The youngest player to win consecutive WTA 1000 (previously Tier I) events since Martina Hingis in 1997.
  • The third-youngest player in the past 40 years to defeat the No. 1 in a WTA final after dropping the first set, surpassed only by Jennifer Capriati (1991) and Gabriela Sabatini (1988).

Ah, the ‘90s. A time when the internet was largely uncharted territory—unbelievably, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X were not even conceived—and the price of a dozen eggs was around a dollar.

The turning point occurred in the third game of the second set.

Prior to this, Andreeva had created seven break point opportunities but failed to convert any. In fact, extending back to her two previous straightforward defeats against Sabalenka earlier in the year, she was 0-for-18 on break points. This explains Andreeva’s later comment: “the anger was just building up inside me.”

The 19th attempt proved to be the breakthrough. Andreeva executed a powerful return that Sabalenka couldn’t handle, securing the break at 2-1. Andreeva went on to win four of the subsequent six break points to clinch the match.

After her victory, she quoted Snoop Dogg and LeBron James. Despite feeling surreal, Andreeva’s 19 match wins this year top the WTA tour.

Since her breakthrough performance in Madrid nearly two years ago at age 15, Andreeva has been challenging the top echelon of tennis. She has now risen to No. 6 in the updated PIF WTA Rankings on Monday.

The anticipation is over. She has arrived.

Five questions with Mirra Andreeva

Did I hear you quote LeBron James in your post-match interviews?

Andreeva: Something like that, yes. I remember LeBron James gave an interview that I like to use in motivational videos before matches. He said that even if you don’t feel 100 percent physically, you can choose to be 100 percent mentally, and that’s what makes champions. So I tried to apply that today, and it seemed to work.

Ultimately, what do you think made the difference in the match?

Andreeva: I think it was finally being able to maintain a positive mindset about my game. In the first set, I felt I was too negative, frustrated about not converting break points and winning key points and games. So, I really focused on staying positive.

You mentioned Snoop Dogg and thanked yourself after the match. What aspect of your performance are you most proud of?

Andreeva: I think it’s my ability to recover after a less-than-ideal first set. I faced some difficulties and really pushed myself to think positively. My team has done so much for me, and I felt that losing without a fight wouldn’t be right. I really tried to fight for every point afterwards.

You just defeated World No. 1, No. 2, and No. 7 on your path to the title… honestly, a few months ago, did you believe you were capable of this?

Andreeva: I would say that now I am confident I can compete and win against top players in big matches. Before, I would come onto the court aiming to win as many games as possible because I felt I had nothing to lose. Now, facing top players, I genuinely believe I can beat them. This self-belief was crucial today as well.

Your initial goal for 2025 was Top 10. After achieving that in Dubai, it shifted to Top 5. Now that you’re at No. 6 in the rankings, what are your future goals?

Andreeva: I’m still aiming for the Top 5, as I haven’t reached it yet. My goal is also to maintain this level and this mindset. I will do my best to achieve that, and we will see if I can.