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Mirra Andreeva. Taya Gray/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Mirra Andreeva's road to superstardom is officially underway

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 8:50 AM ET

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva showed flashes of a future superstar when, at 16, she reached the fourth round of the 2023 Wimbledon. She would continue to impress by reaching the 2024 French Open semifinal, becoming the youngest to reach the final four in Paris since 1997.

Andreeva has taken an even more significant leap in 2025. Over the weekend, the 17-year-old prodigy defeated Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals and finals at Indian Wells, respectively, becoming the second-youngest player ever to beat the top-two-ranked players at a WTA 1000 event or a grand slam.

2 - Mirra Andreeva is the 2nd-youngest player to defeat to World No. 1 and No .2 in SF and F in a WTA-1000/Tier 1 or Grand Slam since the WTA Rankings were published in 1975, older only than Tracy Austin at US Open 1979. Wow.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/xIaLeT5lPF
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 16, 2025

Andreeva also became the youngest player to win the Indian Wells title since American legend Serena Williams in 1999.

3 - Since 1989, Mirra Andreeva is the third-youngest player to win the Women's Singles title in Indian Wells, older only than Martina Hingis (1998) and Serena Williams (1999). Star.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/od3mAII9Ek
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 16, 2025

Women under age 18 to defeat the world No.1 and world No.2 in a single WTA event in the last 40 years:

- Steffi Graf, 1987 Miami
- Serena Williams, 1999 US Open
- Mirra Andreeva, 2025 Indian Wells

The two greatest players of all time, and Mirra Andreeva. pic.twitter.com/eiZjnLi38s
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 16, 2025

While impressive, the win at Indian Wells wasn't unexpected. Andreeva began the year by reaching the semifinal in Brisbane and the fourth round at the Australian Open before capturing her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai. En route to the Dubai title, she would stun Swiatek in straight sets and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in the semifinal to break into the top 10 in rankings for the first time.

With the Indian Wells win, Andreeva reached a career-high ranking of World No. 6. She now heads to South Florida with the opportunity to become the youngest player ever, male or female, to capture the Indian Wells and Miami titles in the same season. No teenager has completed the Sunshine Double, per Tennis.com.

Andreeva, who turns 18 on April 29, is gunning for history. After her win on Sunday, the Russian said she is ready to embrace the fame and spotlight that comes with being a teenage sensation.

"Maybe it's happening fast, but I like it," she said, via TennisMajors.com. "...It's not bad to win two tournaments in a row, so I'm really happy about that. If it's happening fast, I have no idea if it is, but I'm okay with it. Yes, I take it."

Andreeva started the year wanting to break into the top five in the rankings. On her current trajectory, she will likely finish 2025 with her first major title and a top-three ranking to boot.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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