Extensive Match Report. In rapidly changing weather conditions, teenager Mirra Andreeva took on world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of Indian Wells. With their head-to-head tied at 1-1, neither player showed signs of nerves, holding serve comfortably all the way up to 2-3 in favor of Swiatek. What happened next is described in full detail.
Andreeva Stuns Iga Swiatek to Take a Thrilling First Set
Coming off two aces in the fifth game, the Pole found an opening in the sixth, going up 0-30 after an Andreeva double fault. The young Russian responded with pinpoint serving to reach deuce. Swiatek kept pushing, but in a tremendous rally, Andreeva overpowered her to gain the advantage before sealing the game with a strong serve. At 3-all, everything was still to play for.
Midway through the first set, Swiatek remained aggressive, but a lucky net roll gave Andreeva a 15-30 lead. Another double fault brought up 15-40 and the first break points of the match for the Russian. The first was erased as the ball clipped the net but didn’t roll over, bringing it back to deuce.
A long rally followed, where Andreeva suddenly attempted too much, sending an ambitious shot wide into the tramlines. At advantage, Swiatek delivered a strong second serve, securing a crucial hold to edge ahead 4-3.
With the wind picking up even more, Mirra Andreeva now needed to hold serve. A mistimed shot into the net from Swiatek was followed by a blistering ace from Andreeva, bringing her to 30-15. A devastating backhand winner made it 40-15, and the teenager sealed the game with a commanding smash, leveling the set at 4-4.
“Play on the outsides of the ball. Commitment!” her coach Conchita Martínez whispered from the sidelines. However, the advice initially had little effect as Swiatek raced to a 30-15 lead on serve.
With 35 minutes on the clock, the Pole faltered with a costly double fault. Sensing an opportunity, Andreeva unleashed a blistering return off a strong serve, leaving Swiatek unable to respond. Facing a third break point, the teenager held her nerve, converting in style to grab the decisive break—leaving her with the chance to serve out the first set.
How Andreeva managed to keep the ball in at 0-15 remains a mystery, but Swiatek quickly responded with brilliance. A thunderous backhand winner brought her to 15-40, setting up two break points. The world No. 2 seized the opportunity, delivering at the perfect moment to level the set at 5-5.
With momentum on her side, Swiatek surged forward, winning three points in a row to take control of Andreeva’s service game. She carried that dominance into her own serve, claiming another three consecutive points with precise shot-making. Out of nowhere, the match had shifted, and Andreeva suddenly found herself serving to stay in the first set.
The teenager struggled, especially when a net cord made her forehand bounce high, allowing Swiatek to go up 0-30 and move within two points of breaking. Andreeva responded with a brilliant down-the-line winner, leveling at 30-30, followed by a confident ace. However, a costly double fault brought it back to deuce. Talking to herself between points, she found the resolve to serve her way into a tiebreak.
Tiebreak Drama:
1-0 Andreeva starts with a mini-break
2-0 The crowd firmly behind the Russian
3-0 A blistering 126 mph ace!
3-1 Swiatek fights back, but her backhand sails just wide
4-1 Another devastating backhand winner from Andreeva
5-1 A kick-serve on the second serve leaves Swiatek rattled—she now risks losing her first set in Indian Wells since 2022
6-1 A short return from Swiatek, and Andreeva finishes at the net for five set points
7-1 Swiatek’s backhand drifts wide, and the teenager seals the first set 7-6!
Swiatek Strikes Back: A Dominant Second Set
A frenzied exchange with coach Wim Fissette at the start of the second set saw Swiatek not only responding to his words but also finding her rhythm with an immediate break of serve. With the urgency of avoiding defeat, she held firm on serve, quickly extending her lead to 2-0. At this moment, Swiatek was playing for high stakes—chasing her first final since Roland Garros.
Pressing forward, the Pole attacked the net to reach 30-all on Andreeva’s serve, but the young Russian countered with a delicate drop shot and a well-placed winner. Andreeva held for 1-2, but Swiatek remained in control. A quick hold made it 3-1, and the world No. 2 was now in the zone.
Could Andreeva shift the momentum against an aggressive Swiatek running riot? The answer came swiftly—she faltered under pressure, dropping serve once more. Swiatek’s relentless assault left Andreeva with no answers, as three breaks sealed a commanding 6-1 set. The match was now level, with all the momentum favoring Swiatek.
Andreeva took a bathroom break, leaving Swiatek waiting and entertaining herself with some impressive ‘air’ tennis 😂. She had every right to, as parts of the second set had felt like air tennis—so effortless was Swiatek’s dominance, making it look all too easy for Poland’s favorite.
Andreeva Seizes the Moment in a Dramatic Decider
Andreeva, who had switched from orange and white to an all-blue outfit, quickly raced to a 0-30 lead on Swiatek’s serve. However, a short volley from the teenager allowed Swiatek to level at 30-30. Despite being in control, Andreeva lost the next point, giving Swiatek a chance to break. In frustration, she slammed her racket to the ground.
Swiatek had the advantage, but a costly double fault handed Andreeva a breakpoint. Untimely, as always? It seemed so at first, but a backhand winner gave Andreeva another chance—and this time, she took it. 1-0, and she was now serving to consolidate for 2-0.
A few mishits from both players saw the score on Andreeva’s serve quickly shift from 30-0 to deuce. Swiatek suddenly looked unsettled, especially after sending a forehand several yards long. Andreeva took advantage, holding serve to extend her lead to 2-0.
However, the momentum shift was short-lived. Swiatek responded with a routine hold, finishing the game with a commanding overhead smash to get on the board at 2-1.
Unbelievable shot from Andreeva to bring up 40-30 on serve. A quick exchange between Iga Swiatek and the Norwegian umpire disrupted her focus, and Andreeva took full advantage, completing the hold after recovering from 0-30 down.
The momentum stayed with the teenager as she unleashed another stunning winner on Swiatek’s serve, racing to 0-30—then 0-40! With fist pumps in the air, Andreeva sensed the opportunity. A rare unforced error from Swiatek brought it back to 15-40, but a backhand sailed wide, handing Andreeva the double break for 4-1.
Swiatek, however, responded like a champion, immediately breaking back for 4-2. But how quickly had Andreeva thrown away her hard-earned advantage?
Serving in the seventh game, Swiatek saw Andreeva counter a smash with another aggressive strike, celebrating with another fist pump. Determined not to back down, the world No. 2 fired an ace to earn two game points. The second one sealed the hold—4-3 in the decider, with Swiatek edging closer but still a break behind.
Andreeva sprinted to a 30-0 lead on serve but found herself pegged back to 30-all. Still, she held her nerve, keeping her advantage intact for 5-3.
And then, the unthinkable happened. Swiatek, so reliable under pressure, faltered at the worst possible moment. A wide backhand and visible fatigue made it clear—Andreeva was the hungrier, more energetic player. From 30-0 up, Swiatek lost three consecutive points, giving Andreeva a match point. The teenager returned well, forcing another unforced error from the Pole.
Overjoyed, Andreeva had done it. With this victory, she is shaking up the elite, pushing fiercely toward the top six. Could she be top five by Roland Garros? One thing is certain—she will be playing in the 2025 Indian Wells final..