17-year-old Mirra Andreeva made headlines worldwide after becoming the youngest WTA 1000 champion since the format began by winning the Dubai Championships, but the teenager noted that she cannot celebrate like other players.
Andreeva beat Clara Tauson to reign supreme in Dubai. Her super run to the title also included victories against Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, meaning no one can dispute that she earned the moment of glory.
In her press conference afterward, last year’s French Open semifinalist mentioned that she had dreamed of talking to the press after winning a WTA 1000 title and was delighted to make that a reality in Dubai.
Andreeva also knows that many champions drink champagne after winning titles, but she cannot because of her age. This puts into perspective how unique it is for someone so young to win a significant title.
“I’ve been dreaming of having a press conference with a [WTA 1000] trophy by my side, so finally it happened. But I saw winners drinking a glass of champagne. It’s a pity that I’m still 17.”
The legal drinking age in most countries is 18. It is inevitable that Andreeva will win several big tournaments throughout her career, giving the young star many opportunities to drink champagne after a title.
Andreeva is also in the Top 10 for the first time after her success in Dubai. She had been hovering around 11-20 for several months but has now taken the next step after the most significant moment of her career so far.
Although the 17-year-old deserves to feel proud of that exceptional achievement, she knows that moving up further in the rankings will be harder. Nonetheless, the ambitious player wants to be in the Top 5 by the end of the year.
“Now when you enter Top 10 and the higher your ranking is, the slower and longer it’s going to take for you to be even higher because the difference in the points is very, very short, very small.”
“I think it’s going to be hard to enter Top 5. This is the exact goal that I’m going to set for myself, to be Top 5 by the end of the year. I’m very curious if I will be able to achieve it.”
Andreeva’s ambition will probably help her chances of reaching the Top 5. Aryna Sabalenka, who lost to Tauson in the round of 16 in Dubai, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff are currently the Top 3 players on the WTA Tour.
Although those players’ achievements are currently greater than Andreeva’s, the teenager’s emphatic win against Swiatek in Dubai proves that her game is among the most dangerous in the world when it clicks.
Andreeva also defeated Sabalenka in the 2024 French Open quarterfinal, although the Belarusian was hampered by an illness during that match, helping her younger opponent to get over the line in three sets.
The WTA Tour is in a great place right now. Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Andreeva, and other players are generating interest worldwide to help women’s tennis grow further.
