The young tennis prodigy, [Mirra Andreeva](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/anisimova-triunfa-em-duelo-emocionante-contra-andreeva-gauff-brilha-sobre-eala/), left the Dubai Duty Free [Tennis](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/roger-federer-elogia-joao-fonseca-e-semelhante-a-jannik-sinner/) Championships in tears after a devastating defeat in the quarter-finals against [Amanda Anisimova](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/coco-gauff-envia-mensagem-elegante-aos-fas-de-alex-eala-apos-duelo-em-dubai/). In a match full of emotion, the 18-year-old Russian fought bravely but was unable to defend her title, falling in a tie-break in the third set with scores of 6-2, 5-7, 6-7(4). Andreeva, who had come off an impressive streak of seven consecutive victories in the tournament, was forced to exit the competition bitterly, unable to capitalize on the advantage she had in hand.
Her journey in Dubai began inconsistently: after receiving a bye in the first round, she advanced to the second round without playing, due to the withdrawal of her friend Daria Kasatkina because of injury. Nevertheless, Andreeva showcased her quality by defeating Jaqueline Cristian with a double 7-5, thus securing her place in the quarter-finals, where she faced the challenging Anisimova, currently ranked number 6 in the world and a two-time champion of the [WTA](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/jogadora-ex-wta-compara-victoria-mboko-a-coco-gauff-esta-num-nivel-superior/) 1000.
During the match, Andreeva appeared to be in control as she opened up a considerable lead in the second set, leading 6-2, 2-0, but allowed Anisimova to come back, turning the third set into a real rollercoaster. The Russian, who faced a match point on Anisimova’s serve, managed to turn things around and was serving for the match at 6-5, but could not capitalize on the opportunity. Anisimova seized the chance and forced a tie-break, where, with another display of strength, she sealed the victory on her fourth match point after a battle lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes.
“We fought so hard today,” Anisimova declared, visibly emotional about Andreeva’s performance. “I almost cried at the end,” confessed the American player, who acknowledged the quality displayed by both athletes on the court. “It was such a tough battle. Seeing Mirra like that is understandable. She was playing really well and is the defending champion. I felt like we both won today.”
The defeat cost Andreeva 785 of the 1,000 points she earned last year, which will see her drop to ninth place in the rankings. With the Indian Wells approaching, the pressure is on, as the young tennis player needs a solid performance to secure her spot among the top ten in the world, with several Canadian players lurking to take her place.
Now, Anisimova is preparing to face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, a player who has shown solid performance, overcoming formidable opponents such as Iva Jovic and the 2025 Dubai runner-up, Clara Tauson. This will be the fifth time the two Americans meet on court, with Pegula dominating their head-to-head record 4-0, having won the last encounter at the Australian Open. Expectations are high for this decisive clash, where talent and experience will be at play.
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