India Wells, California – Russian teenage star Mirra Andreeva entered the finals of the French KMT Paribas Open, beating defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 on Friday night, in cold conditions, defeated the youngest finalist since 2001.
The 17-year-old Andreeva is the ninth seed and will face a semi-final between Best-seed Aryna Sabalenka and fifth-seed Madison Keys.
Andreeva and Swiatek both ended the game in pullovers, and in the final group, the temperature dropped to the 50s.
Andreeva put her tour winning streak to 11 games and ended Swiatek’s 10 games in the California Desert, with Russia winning her first WTA Tour last month in Dubai, becoming the youngest player to win the WTA 1000 event.
Kim Clijsters was also 17 in 2001 when she lost to Serena Williams in the final.
Swiatek is also the 2002 Indian Wells champion, second place.
On Saturday, in the men’s semifinals, the two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (second seed) will face No. 13 seed Jack Draper and No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev will play No. 12 Hallger Rune.
