Mirra Andreeva beats Jessica Pegula to reach WTA Finals final
Mirra Andreeva, 19, beat American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the WTA Finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. The Russian will play on Sunday for the title.
Her opponent will be the winner of the other semi-final, between Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolina. Noskova is the reigning Wimbledon champion. Andreeva was the stronger player on the day, and she came back from a break down in both sets. A break is winning a game on the other player's serve, and falling behind by one leaves you needing to win back the game you lost.
Pegula was the fifth seed, which means she was placed fifth in the draw based on her ranking. Seeding stops the strongest players from meeting each other too early. Andreeva is ranked world No. 3. The two had never met on the tour before this match.
Andreeva has not dropped a set all week. BBC Sport reports that she has given away just 18 games in four matches. That is the fewest of any WTA Finals finalist since the group-stage format, where every player in a group faces the others, began in 2003.
Her toughest test came in the group stage against No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka. Andreeva won 6-4, 6-0. She trailed 1-4 in the first set, then won 11 games in a row. Against Pegula she won 77% of the points she played behind her first serve, and she hit 17 winners, which are shots the opponent cannot reach.
Andreeva won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros about six months ago. Grand Slams are the four biggest tournaments in the sport. She is the youngest WTA Finals finalist since Maria Sharapova in 2004, when Sharapova was 17 and won the title. This is Andreeva's first appearance at the tournament. She is coached by Conchita Martinez.
Her ranking is about to change too. The Guardian reports that she will rise to No. 2 in the world on Monday, whatever happens on Sunday, and she is set to finish the year there.
For a player who has spent her season doing the small things well, the next step is a final against either Noskova or Svitolina. Fans who follow the tour will know the feeling. A week of close, controlled matches has been building to one more contest on the same court.
