Iga Swiatek was sensationally dumped out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in straight sets by teen sensation Mirra Andreeva on Thursday.
With world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka already knocked out, the stage seemed set for second seed Swiatek to go on and secure her first Dubai crown.
But Andreeva had other ideas as she produced a superb performance to secure a last-four spot following her 6-3, 6-3 victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion.
At 17 years and 297 days, Andreeva became the youngest semi-finalist since the tournament began in 2001.
It was also the Russian's second win over a top-two player following her defeat of the then world No 2 Sabalenka in the French Open quarter-finals eight months ago.
That career-best Grand Slam run at Roland Garros was ended in the last four by Jasmine Paolini, who was in turn thrashed by Swiatek in the final.
It was only the second time Andreeva and Swiatek had faced off with the Pole coming out on top in three sets after a thrilling quarter-final clash in Cincinnati last year.
But revenge was sweet in Dubai as Andreeva became the first player under the age of 18 to defeat Swiatek at tour level.
“Honestly, I was really nervous before the match and we played in Cincinnati last year and it was pretty intense,” Andreeva said.
“So, I just told myself that I played great and I just need to continue to play aggressive and go for my shots.
“It was also not easy with all the fans [supporting her] but I think we were even. I had a lot of people supporting me.”
It has been a busy few days for Andreeva who was forced to play two matches on Wednesday after heavy rain interrupted play.
But that failed to daunt the teenager who dispatched 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and Peyton Stearns – who secured a shock win over three-time Slam finalist Ons Jabeur on Monday – in straight sets.
Swiatek arrived in the UAE having seen a three-year 15-match unbeaten streak in Doha ended by Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals.
There had been little sign of problems in Dubai so far though, with Swiatek brushing aside Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2 and Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-0.
But Andreeva, playing in her second Dubai tournament after losing in the first round last year, proved unbeatable on the day.
Andreeva found herself on the ropes early as she struggled to hold serve in her first service game of the opening set but eventually held on to make it 1-1.
Andreeva then broke Swiatek and continued to impress, covering the court well while also reading her opponent's shots to set up winners. The Russian broke the world No 2 once more, firing a forehand return down the line on set point.
The teenager found herself trailing 3-1 in the second set but corrected course after a quick chat with her coach – former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez – to win five games in a row.
The determined Andreeva broke Swiatek in the penultimate game to serve for the set, eventually sealing victory when the Pole's return on match point went wide.
“I think she [Martinez] didn't tell me anything new. She told me everything I knew already,” said 12th seed Andreeva, who moved into the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career.
“She just told me to keep going because I played good and she just told me to go for my shots, that I don't have to change anything.”
Andreeva will face either Denmark's Clara Tauson or Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the last four.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
More on Quran memorisation:
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
More from Aya Iskandarani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
