Mirra Andreeva Reflects on Hard-Fought Indian Wells Win Over Iga Swiatek
Mirra Andreeva admitted that Iga Swiatek “killed her” midway through their Indian Wells semifinal on Friday but remained composed to fight back and reach her second consecutive WTA 1000 final.
The 17-year-old Russian secured a 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3 victory, becoming the youngest finalist at Indian Wells since 2001. Swiatek, the defending champion, showcased her quality throughout the match, particularly in the second set, where she dominated and left Andreeva searching for answers. However, the teenager refused to back down, ultimately capitalizing on Swiatek’s frustration—which nearly resulted in the four-time Grand Slam champion hitting a ball kid after smashing the ball in anger.
Andreeva on Overcoming Swiatek’s Second-Set Dominance
Speaking to BBC Sport, Andreeva expressed pride in how she handled the match’s pressure.
“I feel that I was dealing with the nerves and the pressure pretty well, so I just feel proud of myself,” she said.
Acknowledging Swiatek’s second-set brilliance, Andreeva admitted she was left with no choice but to fight back.
“After she literally killed me in the second set, I just thought, ‘Well, OK, might as well try to fight.’ There wasn’t much I could do about it—she was playing amazing. So I just decided to grind and fight for every point. It didn’t matter how I got the ball in, I just had to keep putting it in. In the end, it wasn’t too bad.”
Despite facing one of the tour’s most dominant players, Andreeva never doubted herself and remained confident, especially in high-pressure moments.
“I don’t know why, but I felt so much confidence. I felt like I was going to play that tie-break like it was the last tie-break of my life. So I just went for all my shots,” she explained.
“My serve was great, and I just felt super comfortable and super confident during the tie-break. I kind of played on a roll.”
Andreeva’s Next Challenge: Aryna Sabalenka in the Final
Andreeva will now battle for the title against Aryna Sabalenka, who stormed past Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 in just 51 minutes to reach the final.
Sabalenka, known for her powerful game and experience, acknowledged the age gap between her and Andreeva, joking about their generational difference.
“It feels like an old mama playing against a kid,” Sabalenka said. “I’m, what, nine years older than her? She’s two years younger than my sister, and I still look at my sister as a kid. It’s crazy.”
With a clash of styles and generations, the Indian Wells final promises to be a thrilling showdown between one of the sport’s most dominant stars and its brightest young talent.
