Russian teenager Andreeva adds Rybakina scalp in Dubai to reach first WTA 1000 final

Russian Mirra Andreeva continued her giant-killing run at the Dubai Open as she ousted sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the final of a WTA 1000 event for the first time.

The 17-year-old beat Iga Swiatek in the previous round and maintained her form brilliantly to see off the former Wimbledon champion, coming from 3-1 down in the third set to claim victory.

“I just tried to fight for every point, I kept believing and in the end, it went my way,” said Andreeva, who said she relaxed when she fell a break down in the decider. Honestly, when I lost my serve and the score was 1-3, I was like, ‘OK, I’ve had a good run, it’s fine, the match was good, I’m just going to try to fight for every point but she’s serving, so OK’.

“This mentality helped me, I kind of let it go. I still kept fighting for every point. I think when I don’t think about what’s going to happen and I don’t think about the score and I just fight, it’s the best way I can play.”

Andreeva, ranked No 14, will face the winner of the match between Dane Clara Tauson and No 14 seed Karolina Muchova next. She will climb to at least a new career-high of No 11 on Monday, while she will break into the top 10 for the first time – in ninth place – if she wins the title.

The 17-year-old Russian defeated Armenian Elina Avanesyan (6-2, 6-1), Marketa Vondrousova (7-5, 6-0), American Peyton Stearns (6-1, 6-1) and Pole Iga Swiatek, the second seed (6-3, 6-3) in the previous rounds of the Dubai tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Rybakina, ranked No 7, beat Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima (6-3, 6-2), Spaniard Paula Badosa, the No 9 seed (4-6, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2)) and American wildcard Sofia Kenin (6-2, 7-6 (2)).

Dubai WTA 1000, other semi-final result (The Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 3.664.963):

• Clara Tauson vs. Karolina Muchova