Aggressive Mirra Andreeva stands out amongst an inconsistent cohort with stunning Dubai title run
Mirra Andreeva became the youngest WTA 1000 champion in history, winning the tournament in Dubai.
This performance is the first major proof of the immense potential she has shown over the past two years, according to Tennishead’s exclusive statistical analysis partner TennisRatio.com.
Dubai also marked the conclusion of this year’s Middle East Swing. Comparing the performances of the winners from the major February events, Andreeva’s triumph in Dubai demonstrated that she is ready to join the conversation among the top players in the WTA field.
The road to the title was far from easy for the teenager Mirra Andreeva, as she had to face both Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina in the latter stages of the event. Despite the tough draw, Andreeva’s performance stands out compared to the title runs of Amanda Anisimova in Doha and Belinda Bencic in Abu Dhabi.
The rising star displayed excellent serving form, winning the highest number of service games among the three champions. Her success was largely due to her strong first serve and resilience in saving breakpoints. An aggressive yet effective serve was key to her victory. Andreeva recorded more than 0.5 aces per game in Dubai, but the number of double faults was similarly high. While her stats in both categories surpassed those of Anisimova and Bencic, the risk ultimately paid off with significant rewards.
Her effectiveness extended beyond her own serve to her return game, as she had the strongest breakpoints conversion rate and won the highest percentage of return games. Mirra Andreeva displayed remarkable mental strength in the final against Clara Tauson. Despite the seemingly one-sided scoreline (7-6, 6-1), it was the Dane who generated more pressure points (26 compared to Andreeva’s 22). However, the Dubai champion saved 71% of the threat points she faced, while Tauson managed to save only 55%.
The Middle East Swing reignited discussions about the inconsistency of the top players. The WTA 1000 doubleheader saw numerous upsets and early exits of top seeds. However, three players demonstrated some level of consistency, even though they were unlucky not to reach any final. Elena Rybakina made at least the quarterfinals in all three of her appearances, while Iga Swiatek did the same in her last two tournaments. Neither of both managed to clinch the title, leading to a sense of underachievement, knowing her high standards. Meanwhile, Linda Noskova emerged as a player to watch. Her steady progress suggests that a breakthrough result could be on the horizon.
Performance metrics from the entire triple-header highlight Mirra Andreeva’s supremacy, as reflected in the TennisRatio Power Index. Her exceptional serving abilities were a defining factor in her success. While Bencic and Jelena Ostapenko created the most return pressure, Ostapenko suffered two first-round exits aside from her final run in Doha. Noskova’s return stats indicate some vulnerabilities that could hinder her ability to achieve a major breakthrough despite her consistency. Notably, Swiatek’s absence from dominance in any statistical category is an intriguing takeaway. With Indian Wells approaching, there is no clear favorite, making the tournament even more exciting to anticipate.
Data supplied by TennisRatio.com, helping to visualize the performance statistics of the best ATP/WTA tennis players. Their analysis focusses on who performs best on serve and return, who dominates their opponents and who’s game most efficiently translates into results.
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