Number eight in the world, Mirra Andreevabegan preparations for the Australian Open with a quiet victory over another teenager, Victoria Mboko, by 6/3 and 6/1, this Saturday (17), in the final of the WTA 500 in Adelaide, winning the fourth title of her career on the WTA circuit.
The 18-year-old Russian, back-to-back champion of WTA 1000 tournaments last year in Dubai and Indian Wells, debuts against Paris Olympic Games silver medalist Donna Vekic in the first round at Melbourne Park.
How was the game
Mboko, 19 years old, started the decision better and opened 3/0, but Andreeva reacted quickly, won the next six games and closed the first set.
The second partial went to the Russian, who managed to break early on, opened 3/0 and confirmed the triumph with serve, arriving ready for the first Grand Slam of the season, which starts on Sunday.
During the awards ceremony, Andreeva joked about minimizing the role of her team — which includes coach and former world number two Conchita Martínez — in the result.
Merit and courage
“I feel like it was all my credit,” he said. “I trained a lot, I worked a lot, I sweated, and honestly I don’t even know why you are here.”
The young woman continued in a good-humored tone: “I want to thank myself for being brave in every game I played. I want to thank myself for trying hard every day in training. I want to thank me for changing my mindset and fight until the last point. For doing what needed to be done, following what my team says — sometimes complaining, but that’s okay.”
During the match, Mboko requested medical attention in the middle of the confrontation. Current number 17 in the world, the Canadian was the first since Serena Williams to beat four Grand Slam champions in the same tournamenta campaign that resulted in the Canadian Open title last year.
In her debut at Melbourne Park, she faces Australian Emerson Jones.
Men’s final
In the men’s final in Adelaide, Czech Tomas Machac beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6/4, 6/7 (2) and 6/2.
In Auckland, Jakub Mensik defeated Sebastian Baez 6/3 7/6 (7) and won his second ATP title, following his landmark triumph at the 2025 Miami Open, when, at the age of 20, he beat his mentor Novak Djokovic in the decision. Mensik against Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta, while Baez faces Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
In Hobart, Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat American Iva Jovic 6/4 and 6/4 in another preparatory tournament and won her first WTA title since 2023.
