After winning the historic Dubai championship last month, Mirra Andreeva, a teenage phenom, defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final after overcoming a set deficit.
Upon defeating Clara Tauson in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Andreeva secured her place in history as the youngest player to claim an elite 1000-level title.
The 17-year-old knocked out world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and Elena Rybakina during that run, defeating three Grand Slam champions on route to defeating the Dane.
In California, Andreeva triumphed over Rybakina, Tauson, and Swiatek, ultimately advancing to the final where she confronted the top-ranked Sabalenka. Sabalenka commenced the match with notable vigor, securing the first set.
Andreeva delivered a resolute response to equalize the match, subsequently achieving three breaks against the three-time Grand Slam champion in the decisive set, ultimately securing victory on Sunday evening.
Andreeva attributes the calming impact of her coach, Conchita Martinez, for alleviating her anxiety on Sunday, as she felt highly apprehensive while preparing to face Sabalenka, who had secured victory in four of their five prior matches, including two earlier in the year.
On Sunday mornings, Andreeva acknowledged, she felt quite nervous and thought of herself as a brat. She said that when she's anxious, she tends to be a little more reserved, making it difficult for others to get close to her, and she doesn't say much.
Despite Conchita's attempts to establish a pleasant and laid-back environment, Andreeva's anxiety made it challenging in the morning, even if she admitted that Conchita managed the matter effectively in the end.
Although Sabalenka had reached the final without dropping a set, the Belarusian's hopes of winning the Australian Open for a third straight year were dashed when she was taken by surprise by Madison Keys in the Melbourne final.
In contrast to Melbourne, when she performed "like a joke," Sabalenka claimed that this time she let her feelings control her.
After losing to world No. 38 Tausen in Dubai in the last 16, losing just one of her three matches during the Middle East trip, Sabalenka began to doubt her own drive.