How LeBron and Federer impressed Russian teenager Andreeva to tennis historical past

Impressed by LeBron James and Roger Federer, Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva wrapped up a fairytale week in Dubai by turning into the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion with victory over Clara Tauson on Saturday.

After ousting three Grand Slam winners, together with second-seeded Iga Swiatek, en path to the ultimate, Andreeva ended Tauson’s personal dream run on the event with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 victory in opposition to the Dane.

She’s a teenage sensation 🤩

Mirra Andreeva defeats Tauson 7-6(1), 6-1 to be topped champion in Dubai!#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/BvBZTanYYP

— wta (@WTA) February 22, 2025

It was a efficiency that didn’t simply earn Andreeva a maiden WTA 1000 trophy, but in addition secured her top-10 debut with the Russian anticipated to rise to quantity 9 when the brand new rankings are launched on Monday.

Andreeva reveals ‘King’ James’ affect

Andreeva admitted she didn’t really feel her finest on court docket throughout the closing, however drew inspiration from interviews she watched of NBA legend James speaking about how champions can discover methods to win even with out their A-game.

“I simply advised myself, ‘You may both let that negativity come into your head and kill you, or you possibly can select to be 100 per cent mentally and struggle for each level and if one thing doesn’t go your manner, effectively okay positive, you overlook about it and also you play one level at a time’,” mentioned Andreeva.

“I’ve been listening to lots of LeBron James interviews, and he mentioned that, ‘It’s simple to be assured and to play good when every little thing goes your manner, however what makes you a champion is while you’re giving your finest while you don’t really feel nice’. In order that’s what I attempted to do in the present day.”

Andreeva additionally revealed she has been watching highlights from Roger Federer’s 2017 Australian Open closing victory over Rafael Nadal earlier than her matches this week, taking cues from the Swiss nice.

“I used to be watching some highlights. I used to be like, ‘Rattling, how can he play like this? That is one thing extraordinary’,” she mentioned.

“I simply wanna thank me for all the time believing in me” 💙

Congrats, Mirra Andreeva! Youngest WTA 1000 champion in historical past 👑 pic.twitter.com/s2VqOXwOUA

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 22, 2025

Tauson had been a giant-slayer herself in Dubai, knocking out world primary Aryna Sabalenka on her approach to the largest closing of her profession.

The 22-year-old entered the conflict with Andreeva main the tour with 15 match-wins to date this season.

She was trying so as to add a second title to her tally in 2025, and fourth general, however Andreeva had different concepts, as she overcame her big-hitting opponent in a single hour and 46 minutes of all-court prowess.

Within the youngest WTA 1000 closing for the reason that class was launched in 2009, Andreeva performed a near-perfect opening-set tiebreak to take the lead after 60 minutes of play.

She upped the ante within the second set, breaking twice for a 5-1 benefit and served out the win on the first time of asking.

On Monday, Andreeva will change into the primary 17-year-old to be ranked within the prime 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.

In the course of the trophy ceremony, Andreeva congratulated Tauson and thanked her coach Conchita Martinez and her household for his or her help. The affable teenager then shocked the gang by paying credit score to herself.

“Final however not least, I want to thank me. I do know what I’ve been coping with so I need to thank me for all the time believing in me, I need to thank me for by no means quitting and all the time coping with the strain,” mentioned Andreeva.

“At present it was not simple however I selected to be there one hundred pc, so I thank myself for that.”

Moreover the 1,000 rating factors she acquired for successful the Dubai crown, Andreeva pocketed $597,000 in prize cash, which she says she is going to hand over to her father, given she remains to be 17 and doesn’t handle her personal funds.

The Russian had set a objective for herself earlier than the beginning of the season to complete the yr ranked within the prime 10 – a goal she has now checked off her checklist in simply the second month of her marketing campaign.

Tauson confessed she ran out of steam on the finish of a taxing week, and revealed she had been spending nearly three hours every day with the event physios to cope with numerous bodily points.

“I can’t inform you the place it doesn’t harm proper now,” mentioned the Dane.