Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva staged a remarkable comeback to defeat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, making her the youngest tournament champion since Serena Williams in 1999.
With the win, the 17-year-old Andreeva, ranked 11th, improved her season record to 19-3, the best on the women’s tour. This victory marked her second Masters 1000 title of 2025, following her win in Dubai earlier this year, which also propelled her into the top 10 for the first time. She is expected to remain in that upper tier in the WTA rankings on Monday.
Echoing a sentiment from her victory speech in Dubai, where she quoted rapper Snoop Dogg’s remarks upon receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Andreeva expressed gratitude to herself for her persistence, saying, “I would again like to thank myself for fighting until the end, for always believing in me, and for never quitting.”
“I tried to move as quickly as possible today,” Andreeva said, complimenting Sabalenka’s powerful and fast shots. “It was tough to keep up, so I just gave it my all, and that’s why I want to thank myself. I believe I played a key role in this win as well.”
In the men’s final later on Sunday, 13th-seeded Jack Draper of Britain triumphed over 12th-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory, securing his first Masters 1000 title. Draper, 23, had previously shocked two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.
The left-handed Draper, a U.S. Open semifinalist last September, improved his season record to 13-2 and will make his top 10 debut in the ATP rankings on Monday.
Meanwhile, in her match against three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka, Andreeva struggled early, losing the first set. Frustrated, she slammed a ball into the stands after picking one up, showing her anger.
However, Andreeva, who had training tape on her right shoulder, improved significantly in the second set, especially on serve, and outplayed Sabalenka by a 17-7 winner margin. She claimed the set after serving an ace to hold at love for the first time in the match.
In the third set, Andreeva started off strong, breaking Sabalenka’s powerful serve at love. The 17-year-old took a 1-0 lead with a sharp passing shot that Sabalenka, 26, from Belarus, couldn’t even touch with her racket.
Andreeva sealed the match with a forehand winner, then fell to her knees, covering her face with both hands in disbelief.
This win marked her fifth consecutive victory over a top-10 opponent, and Andreeva is now 9-5 against top-ranked players since the start of 2024. Her impressive record includes two wins each over Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek, who Andreeva beat in the semifinals at Indian Wells.
During the trophy ceremony, Sabalenka praised Andreeva’s performance: “Congrats on an incredible run. Great tournament. Great tennis.”
Andreeva became the first player under 18 to defeat both the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked women in the same WTA tournament since Serena Williams did so at the 1999 U.S. Open, defeating Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis. She also became the youngest player to win a WTA title by beating the world No. 1 in a final since Maria Sharapova defeated Davenport in Tokyo in 2005.
After the match, Andreeva humorously reflected on her pre-match nerves, joking with her coach, 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.
“I know I was, as you like to say, a little brat this morning,” Andreeva said. “I was really nervous. I’m sorry for that.”
Sabalenka, who also lost in the 2023 final in the California desert, made a lighthearted comment about her runner-up trophy. When she received her smaller version of the champion’s trophy, she said, “I have a love-hate relationship with this place. I’ll just put this trophy on top of another one and pretend it’s the trophy for winning.”