Teen sensation Mirra Andreeva stuns Aryna Sabalenka to win Indian Wells title

The 17-year-old collected the biggest prize money windfall of her career as she was handed $1,124,380 after her thrilling 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Sabalenka.

She won her 12th straight match as she swept to victory in the biggest match of her career so far, as she backed up her first WTA 1000 title last month at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by claiming one of the biggest titles in women's tennis.

In doing so, Andreeva is the youngest player to notch 12 consecutive WTA 1000 wins since the format's inception in 2009 and she is the youngest player in the last 40 years to defeat World No. 1 and No. 2 in a WTA event, after beating Iga Swiatek on her way to the final."

"After the first set, she killed me once again and I didn't know what to do. I was a bit negative with myself because I had a lot of opportunities and didn't convert them," Andreeva told Sky Sports.

"After I went on a toilet break, I tried to think and calm myself down, I looked in the mirror and said a lot of positive things, even though it wasn't easy, and just like that I tried to bring myself back and in the end it worked.

"I would say I'm a little surprised that I did it [WTA 1000 titles] so soon, but I feel confident in my game and know what I'm going to do and what to expect from myself as soon as I go on court.

"I didn't feel relaxed. The whole match I felt super nervous. After the first set, I just realized, that, oh, well, what I do now, it doesn't work, so I have to change something.

"In the second set, I tried to play a little bit more aggressive. I didn't try to overhit her, because I don't think anyone can overhit Aryna, because she's super-powerful player.

"I tried to really, I don't know, create something to make her uncomfortable, and, you know, point by point, game by game, I managed to do that.

In a remarkably mature on-court speech, Andreeva injected humour and charm into her comments as she said:

"I'd like to thank myself! For fighting until the end, for always believing and for never quitting.

"I tried to run like a rabbit because Aryna was sending bullets [across the net] and it was hard."

Andreeva also showed great maturity on court in this match after she was blown away by Sabalenka in the opening set.

The youngster had lost her previous four meetings against Sabalenka and was an outsider going into this match, but she held her nerve as the two players exchanged service breaks in the third set.

The nerves must have been rising to the surface for Andreeva in the closing stages, but she held her nerve to get over the line.

"I'll meet you next time on court.. probably it won't go your way," said Sabelenka with a wry smile.

"I have a love-hate relationship with this place. It feels like paradise to win here, but I am not happy getting the smaller trophies!"

Andreeva will rise to a new career-high ranking of No. 6 after this week with her status as the rising star of the women's game assured after this success.

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