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.



LeBron ‘Happy to Have Helped’ Andreeva to Indian Wells Win 

Mirra Andreeva addresses the crowd after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Mirra Andreeva addresses the crowd after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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LeBron ‘Happy to Have Helped’ Andreeva to Indian Wells Win 

Mirra Andreeva addresses the crowd after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Mirra Andreeva addresses the crowd after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

NBA star LeBron James said he was happy to have helped Mirra Andreeva after the Russian teenager credited one of his past interviews where he talked about the importance of mental strength for inspiring her to victory at Indian Wells on Sunday.

Andreeva beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-4 6-3 in the final to clinch her second straight WTA 1000 title after winning the Dubai Championship last month.

Andreeva said in an interview with Tennis Channel on Monday that she had taken James' comments to heart.

"He was saying that even if you don't play 100% or even if you don't feel 100% physically, I'm going to choose to be 100% mentally," she said.

"He said that's what makes us champions, so I kind of tried to do the same."

James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer and four-times champion, congratulated the 17-year-old on her win and urged her to keep going.

"Congratulations! Happy to have helped," James wrote on Instagram late on Monday. "But honestly YOU did THAT!! All your hard work, drive, and dedication toward your craft. KEEP GOING! strive for greatness."