Mirra Andreeva, the youngest winner to win a WTA 1000

Mirra Andreeva has taken a major step forward in her career by winning the WTA 1000 title in Dubai. At just 17 years old, she has become the youngest champion in the history of the tournament, after beating the Danish Clara Tauson 7-6 (1) and 6-1 in the final. In doing so, she knocks the Spanish Paula Badosa out of the top-10. This is her second title as a professional, after the one she won in Iasi (Romania) by beating Elina Avanesyan in the final.

After her exit from the Australian Open, where she was unable to play her round of 16 match against Aryna Sabalenka, she returned to competition last week at the WTA 1000 in Doha, where she fell in the second round to Rebecca Sramkova. However, in Dubai she has shown all her potential, coming through each round with solidity.

In the final, Tauson put up a fight in the first set, even forcing a tie-break after coming back from 5-4 down, but was powerless to stop Andreeva's intensity in the second set.

Thanks to this victory, the Russian tennis player has entered the world top 10, beating Paula Badosa by a narrow margin of 22 points. Andreeva will reach ninth place in the ranking, also overtaking the American Emma Navarro.

Last week, Joao Fonseca surprised everyone by winning his first ATP title in Buenos Aires at the age of 18, beating Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo. Now it is Andreeva who confirms her potential with her triumph in Dubai. Tennis is experiencing a change of pace with young players making a strong entrance into the circuit.