Mirra Andreeva made history in the tennis world by becoming the youngest champion of the Dubai Tennis Championships, a WTA 1000 event, since 2009. The Russian prodigy, just 17 years and five months old, defeated top seed players, including world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals and No. 6 Elena Rybakina in the finals, to secure her first WTA 1000 final appearance.
Andreeva’s crowning moment came when she bested Clara Tauson 7-6 (7-1), 6-1, earning her a coveted spot in the WTA Top 10 Rankings for the first time. The triumph has significantly impacted her ranking, catapulting her from number 14 to a career-high number 9.
Despite Andreeva accruing 1,000 points from this win, her net gain was 990 points. This was due to a 10-point deduction from her first-round loss at the 2024 Dubai WTA 1000. This victory brings her total to 3,720 points, hot on the heels of Zheng Qinwen, who sits at 3,780 points in the eighth position.
Runner-up Clara Tauson, who was ranked 33rd before the Dubai tournament, also experienced a significant leap in her career, moving up to 22nd place after gaining 648 points.
Semi-finalists Rybakina and Karolina Muchova were awarded 390 points, with the latter gaining the full amount as she did not participate last year. Rybakina, having reached the quarterfinals in 2024, left with a smaller count of 175 points.
Other notable mentions include Sofia Kenin, Sorana Cirstea, and Linda Noskova, who all made it to the last eight, gaining 215 points. Kenin and Noskova left with a positive difference, whereas five-time Grand Slam winner and Cirstea both had a negative swing of 175 points. Jasmine Paolini, the defending champion, was the biggest loser, dropping 880 points after being eliminated in the round of 16.
Andreeva’s victory was not just in terms of points but also had a significant financial impact. Before her Dubai victory, her earnings for the year were $501,920, with career earnings of $3,202,867. The Dubai championship added a whopping $597,000 to her prize money. Clara Tauson, the runner-up, also had a substantial financial gain, doubling her earnings for the year to date with an additional $351,801. The semi-finalists were awarded $181,400 each, and the quarterfinalists received $83,470.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who made it to the round of 16, took home $41,600 and 110 points. No. 3 Coco Gauff lost in the second round and lost 205 points but received a prize money of $23,500.
Mirra Andreeva’s meteoric rise to the top is a testament to her talent and hard work. Her victory at the Dubai Championships has not only boosted her rankings and earnings but also placed her firmly on the radar as one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis.