“Number one in the oven and Multiple Grand Slams SLOWLY BAKING that will be served in the future,” said the legendary coach Rick Macci, praising Mirra Andreeva after her sensational Dubai triumph. And honestly, who could argue with him? Breaking into the WTA Top 10 at just 17 years of age and clinching her first WTA 1000 title, that’s no small feat! Andreeva’s meteoric rise has left the tennis world in awe, but what’s even more fascinating? The fire behind her success. After her historic achievement, the young Russian sensation revealed the source of her relentless motivation, and guess who it is? None other than the NBA’s all-time great, LeBron James! A titan who dominated his court for 22 seasons!

Andreeva’s battle against Clara Tauson in the Dubai Championships final was not quite a walk in the park. The 17-year-old found herself in early trouble, dropping serve to go 0-2 down. But like a true champion in the making, the Russian fought back, breaking Tauson to level things at 2-2 and forcing a tense tie-breaker. Andreeva, who has been flawless in tie-breaks this year, wasted no time asserting her dominance, storming through the first six points and clinching the set in style. But if the first set was a fight, the second was a statement. 

The teenager blitzed her way to a commanding 5-1 lead, leaving Tauson scrambling for answers. Frustration boiled over for the Danish, who took a medical time-out and even smashed her racket in sheer exasperation! Sensing victory though, Andreeva stepped up, serving for the title with ice in her veins, and she eventually sealed the match 7-6 (1), 6-1 in one hour and 46 minutes. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion since the format’s introduction in 2009 and the fifth player to win her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai. As the tennis fraternity marveled at her triumph in the Middle East, Andreeva revealed the powerful force behind her motivation.

Just after the match, Andreeva addressed the press and revealed, “I’ve been listening to a lot of LeBron James interviews & he said that It’s easy to be confident & play good when everything goes your way, but what makes you a champion is when you’re giving your best when you don’t feel great. So that’s what I tried to do today,”. And, her triumph in Dubai is no joke at all as she has covered a long path before the glory!

The teenage sensation didn’t just waltz into the final: she fought her way through a gauntlet of elite competition throughout the tournament. She delivered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, dismantling Polish No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the QF with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory. But that wasn’t the only extraordinary result she pulled off! In a nerve-wracking SF clash against 7th rank Elena Rybakina, the Russian found herself trailing 3-1 in the deciding set, yet she refused to back down, rallying back spectacularly to take the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Her unwavering resilience and audacious shot-making culminated in a historic final match against Tauson. 

With this monumental victory in the final, the Russian soars from No. 14 to No. 9 in the WTA rankings, etching her name as the first 17-year-old to break into the Top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007. And, right after the victory, she acknowledged the hard work she put in to win the first major title of her career.

“Last but not least, I’d like to thank me” — Mirra Andreeva after her final triumph in Dubai

What a week it has been for Mirra Andreeva! Not only did the Russian claim her biggest title yet, but she also carved her name in the history books with a string of jaw-dropping victories. The 17-year-old took down 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, five-time major winner ‘Iga Swiatek’, and the 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, becoming the youngest player to defeat three Grand Slam champions at a single event since her countrywoman Maria Sharapova at the 2004 WTA Finals.

Before this Dubai triumph, Andreeva’s only title was the Iasi Open in Romania last year. Now, she’s shattered records once again, becoming just the second teenager: male or female, to win the Dubai event since its introduction in 1993, following in the footsteps of the Spanish maestro Rafael Nadal (2006). In the aftermath of her landmark accomplishment, she offered an unreserved and forthright account of its meaning.

“Last but not least, I’d like to thank me. I know what I’ve been dealing with, so I want to thank me for always believing in me. I want to thank me for never quitting & always dealing with the pressure. Today was not easy, but I chose to be there 100%, so I thank myself,” she remarked.

With this victory, Andreeva has achieved one of her personal goals by breaking into the Top 10 before the end of the year. How many trophies do you think she will win by year’s end?