Teen Andreeva Topples Defending Champ Swiatek to Reach Indian Wells Final

Mirra Andreeva of Russia in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the women’s semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
Mirra Andreeva of Russia in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the women’s semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
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Teen Andreeva Topples Defending Champ Swiatek to Reach Indian Wells Final

Mirra Andreeva of Russia in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the women’s semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
Mirra Andreeva of Russia in action against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the women’s semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Russian teen Mirra Andreeva ended defending champion Iga Swiatek's bid for an unprecedented third Indian Wells women's title, toppling the world number two 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 on Friday to reach the final, AFP reported.

Andreeva, 17, ended Swiatek's 10-match Indian Wells winning streak, beating the Polish star for the second time in three weeks after toppling her in the quarter-finals at Dubai on the way to becoming the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion.

She'll have a chance at another of the prestigious titles on Sunday when she takes on the winner of another semi-final grudge match between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Andreeva is the youngest Indian Wells finalist since 17-year-old Kim Clijsters in 2001.

The world number 11 stymied Swiatek in a dominant first set tiebreaker and regrouped after Swiatek steam-rolled through the second set on another cold, blustery evening on Stadium Court.

American veteran Keys denied the Belarusian a third straight Aussie Open title as she claimed her own maiden major in Melbourne in January.

Swiatek, who hadn't dropped a set in her prior 10 match wins in the California desert, looked supremely confident as she dropped just one point in her first three service games.

But Andreeva claimed the first break of the match for a 5-4 lead, Swiatek opening the door with a double fault and a forehand into the net before firing a forehand crosscourt wide.

Swiatek broke back in the next game and they went to the tiebreaker, where Andreeva opened with a stinging backhand crosscourt winner to launch a dominant display.

Swiatek put her frustrations aside and broke Andreeva to open the second set, breaking her twice more as the Russian's errors multiplied under pressure from her opponent.

"I saw my mom's nervous face in the big screen," Andreeva told the crowd. "I tried not to look there."

But the roles reversed again when Andreeva broke Swiatek to open the third and she sealed the victory with her third break of the set.



Barcelona Pair Casadó, Martínez Out of Spain’s Nations League Squad Over Injury

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Barcelona Pair Casadó, Martínez Out of Spain’s Nations League Squad Over Injury

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina

Midfielder Marc Casadó and central defender Iñigo Martínez are out of Spain's Nations League quarter-final because of injury, the national soccer federation said Monday.
Defending champion Spain visits the Netherlands on Thursday and hosts them on Sunday in the return match.
Casadó hurt his right knee in the second half of Barcelona’s 4-2 win at Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday. National team coach Luis de la Fuente has replaced him with Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix García.
Barcelona teammate Martínez also has a right knee problem, though the defender finished the match against Atletico. He has been replaced for the Nations League matches by Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, a member of Spain’s under-21 squad.