Andreeva, Federer and LeBron James

The women's singles champion of professional tennis tournaments comes and goes. The new champion could be a player who has waited for years to win a trophy or a teenager who has only recently competed in the professional tennis arena, such as Mirra Andreeva.

Andreeva is a Russian tennis player born on April 9, 2007. She started her professional tennis career in 2022 when she received a wildcard to play in the WTA 250 Tunisia tournament. However, her journey was short-lived as she lost to Anastasia Potapova in the first round.

Despite having the opportunity to play on the WTA Tour, Andreeva can still play in the junior category until she is 18. In 2023, for example, she played at the junior level in the Australian Open Grand Slam and reached the final.

Her name began to be known to more people that year when she made her debut at Wimbledon, a tournament that also raised the name of Cori “Coco” Gauff in 2019. Andreeva and Coco reached the fourth round with the same status, namely as tennis players who had to go through the qualifying phase first.

Coco became a phenomenon at Wimbledon 2019 when she defeated Venus Williams in the first round, before losing to Simona Halep in the fourth round at the age of 15. Although after that her steps in professional tennis competition were not so fast, Coco was able to be part of the champions of major events (WTA 1000 and Grand Slam) at a young age. She won her first title from the WTA 1000 level in Cincinnati, followed by becoming the Grand Slam champion of the United States Open in 2023 at the age of 19.

Four years after Coco's phenomenon at Wimbledon 2019, Andreeva created a similar moment on the grass courts of the All England Club, London, England. She eliminated the top seeds in two rounds, including 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round.

Andreeva's 16-year-old comeback was finally ended by Madison Keys in the fourth round. That moment was one of the factors that earned Andreeva the 2023 WTA Rookie of the Year award.

A year later, the teenager again caused a Grand Slam upset by reaching the semifinals of the French Open. She eliminated Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka in the second round and quarterfinals.

In 2024, Andreeva also achieved career firsts, winning a WTA tournament, at the WTA 250 Iasi, Romania. She also reached the quarterfinals at three WTA 1000 tournaments, in Madrid, Cincinnati, and Beijing.

In addition, Andreeva recorded herself as an Olympian medal winner, a feat rarely achieved by other tennis players. In her debut at the world's largest multi-sport event, Andreeva won silver in women's doubles with Diana Shnaider at Paris 2024.

Her development as a young athlete competing with the world's top tennis players was carried out with Conchita Martinez, a former Spanish tennis player who has coached her since April 2024. Not only is she a companion to provide technical input, Martinez has become a friend to Andreeva who admits that she still often acts like a child.

While performing at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open in January, for example, Andreeva said she is still a hot-tempered person. She is also someone who loves to share stories with others, including Martinez.

"I don't know if she wants to hear every story I have or not, but I feel very comfortable telling her things. We joke around a lot, but we still have a professional relationship as an athlete and a coach," Andreeva told the WTA website.

Thanks to the help of Martinez, who also coached Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, Andreeva won her first title from the WTA 1000 event. She won the WTA 1000 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after defeating Clara Tauson with a score of 7-6 (1), 6-1, in the final, Saturday (22/2/2025). So, the title is the highest achievement, at least until now.

Both finalists have made a phenomenal start to their respective careers during the week in Dubai, knocking out Grand Slam champions. Tauson defeated three-time Grand Slam champion and world number one Sabalenka in the third round. Andreeva sent home three Grand Slam champions, Marketa Vondrousova in the second round, Iga Swiatek (quarterfinals), and Elena Rybakina (semifinals).

The journey made Andreeva the youngest player to defeat three Grand Slam champions in one tournament since Maria Sharapova at the 2004 WTA Finals. Sharapova, who was 17 years and 7 months old, defeated her seniors, Svetana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Myskina, and Serena Williams in the final. Andreeva was 17 years and 10 months old when she won the WTA 1000 Dubai.

However, Andreeva is confirmed to be the youngest WTA 1000 champion since the tournament was introduced in 2009. Not only that, at the age of 17 years and 301 days, on Monday (24/2/2025), she became the youngest tennis player since Nicole Vaidisova (2007) to break into the world's top ten. Andreeva will be ranked ninth.

"I dreamed of going to a press conference with the WTA 1000 trophy by my side. And it finally happened," Andreeva said at the press conference. "Usually, champions drink champagne to celebrate, but unfortunately, I can't because I'm 17," she continued.

Apart from Martinez, there are two figures who indirectly played a role in making Andreeva the best tennis player at WTA Dubai, namely the best athletes (greatest of all time/GOAT) in their respective branches: LeBron James and Roger Federer.

Andreeva admitted she didn't play her best during the final, falling behind Tauson. In a difficult moment, she recalled the words of James, a four-time NBA champion with three clubs, about how champions can find a way to win even when they're not at their best.

“She said, when everything goes according to plan, we are confident. However, what makes someone great is when we keep trying to give our best when the conditions are not ideal. I also reminded myself not to think negatively that could make my performance worse. I can choose another path, which is to fight for every point. That's what I did today," said Andreeva.

The tennis player who idolizes Andy Murray and Ons Jabeur also remembers Federer's performance during the 2017 Australian Open final. Federer won after defeating Rafael Nadal in five sets and it was his first title in a Grand Slam event in five years.

“I watch clips of his matches and think, ‘Crazy, how can he do that?’ What Federer did was incredible,” he said.

While her achievement in Dubai was remarkable, it didn’t take Andreeva long to realize that the challenges ahead were much greater. Moreover, many tennis players are unable to consistently compete at a high level, even after winning major events. The closest moment was when Amanda Anisimova was eliminated in the first round in Dubai after winning the WTA 1000 Doha, just three days later.

"After entering the top 10, it will take a long time and a slower journey to continue to climb. The competition is tougher," said the tennis player who is targeting to be in the top five by the end of 2025. (AP/AFP)