Mirra Andreeva Advances to Face Iga Swiatek in Dubai Quarterfinals

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Mirra Andreeva, the 12th seed, secured her place in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Peyton Stearns on Wednesday. The match, held at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre, lasted just over an hour.

Andreeva, ranked No. 14 in the world, showcased her skill with six aces and multiple breaks against Stearns, who is ranked No. 46. This win marks Andreeva’s third consecutive match in straight sets, having previously defeated Elina Avanesyan (6-2, 6-1) and Marketa Vondrousova (7-5, 6-0) earlier in the tournament.

“I felt good on the court today. I was serving well and able to put pressure on her right from the start,” Andreeva said in a post-match interview. The young Russian will face the second seed, Iga Swiatek, in her next match. Their upcoming quarterfinal clash is set to be their second meeting, with Swiatek having won their first encounter last year in Cincinnati.

Swiatek, the Polish star, breezed through her rounds leading up to the quarterfinals, defeating Dayana Yastremska (7-5, 6-0). She is looking to redeem herself after an unexpected loss in Qatar last week and is motivated to claim the title in Dubai.

“I’m excited to play against Mirra again. She’s a tough competitor, and it’s always challenging to face someone so talented at such a young age,” Swiatek stated.

In other matches on Wednesday, Clara Tauson beat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-3, 6-2 scoreline, marking her first win against a top-ranked player. Tauson is now set to play Czech player Linda Noskova, who overcame fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula (6-3, 7-6). Meanwhile, defending champion Jasmine Paolini was eliminated by Sofia Kenin (6-4, 6-0) after sustaining an ankle injury during the match.

The anticipated quarterfinal match between Andreeva and Swiatek will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, on the outdoor hard courts of the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. Fans can watch the match live on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and Tennis Channel in the US, starting not before 10 a.m. UK time.