"Fight for every point": Mirra Andreeva eyes 'revenge' against Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells final

Russia’s Mirra Andreeva has stated that she will try to take revenge against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in the upcoming final of the WTA 1000 event — Indian Wells. The 17-year-old, who is already regarded as the one for the year, has cemented her place in the final of the event in California after beating the reigning world number two, Iga Swiatek, with a score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.

That victory sets up a mouthwatering finale between Andreeva and Sabalenka. The reigning world number one defeated the 2025 Australian Open finalist Madison Keys in the semifinal in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-1. It will be the sixth meeting between the two players. In the previous five meetings, Sabalenka has a clear edge with four wins and just one defeat.

Their most recent meeting took place in the fourth round of the Australian Open this year, where the three-time Grand Slam winner came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Andreeva, while talking to the media after the match, stated that she will be out to take ‘revenge’ against Sabalenka when the two clash in the much-awaited final on Sunday.

“Yeah, the matches that we played this year didn’t really go my way,” said Andreeva. “Yeah, I can say she almost killed me, especially in Melbourne. Yeah, I’m gonna try to take a revenge, because I still have nothing to lose, and I feel like the match is going to be probably entertaining. There is going to be a lot of, I think, a lot of winners, a lot of great points. Now it’s going to be Conchita’s job to prepare me well for this match, so I hope she is gonna do it. But, yeah, I will just go out there as for every other match and try to play my best and to fight for every point, and then we’re gonna see who’s gonna win.”