amanda anisimova, Mirra Andreeva to clash in Dubai quarterfinals after belated starts
Amanda Anisimova and defending champion Mirra Andreeva will renew hostilities in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals after both players shook off long layovers to post straight-set third-round victories on Wednesday. The pair, who each endured delayed starts to their campaigns, are scheduled to meet on Thursday (ET) for the first time this season.
Belated starts, straight-set progression
Neither player had been on court until Wednesday. Both were handed first-round byes and then given second-round walkovers when opponents withdrew through injury, leaving Anisimova and Andreeva to begin their Dubai runs later than the rest of the field. When they finally took to the court, each handled their third-round tests in efficient fashion.
Anisimova, the No. 2 seed, dispatched a wild card opponent 6-1, 6-3, using a clean serving display and aggressive baseline depth to close out the match in straight sets. Andreeva, the 18-year-old defending champion, endured a more turbulent path but still emerged victorious, overcoming Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3 in a match that produced 13 service breaks.
The wins mark an unusual week for both players. Anisimova had been forced to retire with illness in her recent event in Doha, while Andreeva exited Doha after surrendering a match in a dramatic swing of momentum. Despite those setbacks and the disrupted schedule here, each has shown enough sharpness to remain in title contention.
History and stakes: a rematch with recent baggage
This will be only the second WTA Tour meeting between the two. Eleven months ago in Miami, Anisimova halted Andreeva's 13-match streak with a hard-fought 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory. That result gives Anisimova a recent psychological edge, but Andreeva's status as defending champion and her comfort on these courts mean the match is far from a foregone conclusion.
Beyond personal rivalry, the match has tournament implications. The winner will move into the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event and punch a significant ticket in the Middle East swing. For Andreeva, a successful title defense would cement her rapid rise and underline her ability to handle pressure; for Anisimova, a deep run here would be a strong comeback statement after the interrupted Doha outing.
Andreeva candid about imperfections; will notebook help again?
Andreeva admitted she was "really far from perfect" in her 7-5, 6-3 victory and highlighted struggles with the conditions and her own nerves. She committed 31 unforced errors and seven double faults, three of which came while attempting to serve out the first set at 5-4. Still, the young Russian found a way to close out each set and leaned on familiar routines to steady herself.
Notably, Andreeva revisited a well-documented ritual: her tactical notebook. After failing to serve for the first set, she said she read the notes, reminded herself of the things to focus on and managed to finish the job. "I'm just happy I could walk away from the court as a winner, " she said, recounting how she forced herself to hit through the tension and dig deep on crucial points.
Cristian, who pushed Andreeva with aggressive returns and timely opportunities, will be left to rue a handful of netted volleys and backhands at decisive moments. For Anisimova, the challenge will be to transfer the controlled, powerful tennis she showed on Wednesday to a tougher opponent who knows how to up the ante in the biggest moments.
The quarterfinal on Thursday (ET) promises a clash of contrasting temperaments: Anisimova's measured aggression against Andreeva's mercurial flair and resilience. Both players arrive battle-tested in different ways, and the rematch is shaping up as one of the day's most intriguing matchups in Dubai.
