Rising teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva is showing why she is one of the best prospects on the WTA Tour after her stunning three-sets win over Aryna Sabalenka emerge champion at Indian Wells in California.
17-year-old Andreeva, who fell to Sabalenka in the Australian Open fourth round back in January, produced a clinical performance this time as she rallied from a set down to beat the world number one 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 and land the title.
Victory extends Andreeva’s winning streak on the Tour to 12 matches and sees her becoming just the third youngest player to win the Indian Wells women’s title after Martina Hingis in 1998 and Serena Williams in 1999.
It is also her second successive title and back-to-back victories at WTA 1,000 level – following her triumph in Dubai last month.
Andreeva is the youngest champion in WTA history at this level and will rise to a career high of sixth in the world when the latest rankings are released on Monday.