amanda anisimova and Mirra Andreeva Set for Dubai Quarterfinal Clash After Belated Starts
Amanda Anisimova and defending champion Mirra Andreeva will renew their rivalry in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals after both players finally found match rhythm in the third round. The pair’s wins came after unusual openings to the week left both with belated starts to their title defenses.
Wins after walkovers and byes produce late starts
Neither Anisimova nor Andreeva played before Wednesday; both had received first-round byes and second-round walkovers that delayed their competitive returns. When they did take the court, they each overcame different tests to reach the last eight. Anisimova, the No. 2 seed, moved past wild card Janice Tjen with a composed 6-1, 6-3 performance that emphasized clean ball striking and controlled aggression. The victory offered Anisimova a clearer platform to express her game after an earlier retirement in Doha left questions about her form.
Andreeva’s path was far choppier. The defending champion edged Jaqueline Cristian 7-5, 6-3 in a match marked by 13 breaks of serve and plenty of volatility. Andreeva committed 31 unforced errors, including seven double faults, and twice failed to serve out the opening set. Yet the 18-year-old found ways to close out each set, relying on gritty baseline retrievals and timely aggression when it mattered most.
Andreeva candid about struggles; notebook helps refocus
After the match Andreeva was blunt about her level. She acknowledged being “really far from perfect” and described the challenge of handling the conditions and her own nerves. She admitted that tension made her hesitant at times—"I was tense, I was nervous, I cared a lot about every single point"—and that she had to force herself back into a more assertive mindset.
One small ritual provided a tangible reset: Andreeva’s notebook. The player has previously been seen consulting the pages between games, and she said reading those notes helped her focus when serving for the first set a second time. The notebook became a practical tool to regroup during a match that repeatedly swung back and forth, with Andreeva repeatedly earning breaks only to hand them back before reasserting herself at crucial moments.
Cristian will lament missed chances—several netted volleys and backhands at important junctures swung momentum and proved decisive—while Andreeva’s ability to lock in at the very end of each set carried her through despite the error count.
Quarterfinal narrative and what to expect
This will be the pair’s second meeting on tour; Anisimova ended Andreeva’s 13-match winning streak in Miami last season, prevailing in three sets. That prior result gives Anisimova a psychological edge of experience, but Andreeva arrives with the boost of being the defending champion and the resolve that comes from grinding through an imperfect performance to win.
Strategically, the quarterfinal promises a contrast: Anisimova’s ability to dictate with depth and power against Andreeva’s movement, varied angles and comfort on these courts. If Anisimova can keep unforced errors low and build pressure from the baseline, she will likely control points. If Andreeva can replicate the late-set focus she found against Cristian while reducing double faults, she can take advantage of carved openings and force short points.
Both players will aim to convert the momentum of Wednesday’s victories into a cleaner display on Thursday. Expect intensity from the outset, with each seeking to avoid extended slumps after the week’s unusual opening sequence. The winner will move into the semifinals with renewed belief; the loser will leave with questions to answer about converting potential into consistent execution under pressure.
