Mirra Andreeva, after dominating Elena Rybakina: “I don’t know why people support me so much.”

Mirra Andreeva is making a strong name for herself on the circuit, especially since winning the Dubai tournament last February. This victory made her the youngest player to claim a WTA 1000 title since the format was introduced in 2009.

Against defending champion Elena Rybakina, she sent a strong message by winning 6.1, 6.2. Particularly well-supported in California, she expressed her surprise during the post-match press conference.

“I don’t know why people support me so much because, honestly, when I played in the United States, my results weren’t great. You know, last year, I lost in the first round. At the US Open, I lost twice in the second round. They stayed until the end of our match, and they were still there tonight. It’s quite late, and it’s pretty cold outside. For me, that’s amazing. There’s something about the United States that makes people very energetic, and I can feel their energy. It’s a real boost to try and achieve big performances.”