Mirra Andreeva Gives Victoria Mboko a Masterclass in Adelaide Final

She trailed 3-0 in the opening set, and all eyes were on Victoria Mboko, who was angling to make a big statement in a heavily anticipated battle of teenagers on Saturday in Adelaide.

The momentum was firmly in Mboko’s hand for that brief moment – then it wasn’t.

Mirra Andreeva stormed back to win 12 of the final 13 games, the Russian making an emphatic statement of intent as she closed a 6-3, 6-1 win to claim her fourth career WTA title and first at the 500 level.

Third-seeded Andreeva dropped four points in four games as she rallied from 0-3 to 4-3 and she converted her third break point of the final game to claim the set.

She stretched her run of games to nine before Mboko, now struggling physically under the weight of a challenging week that saw her three three-set victories, could only manage one more game, and she even had to save a break point to claim it, for 1-3 in the final set.

“I saw that Vicky, she played great in the beginning, and then I saw her struggling a little bit physically,” Andreeva said. “I also hope that she can recover in time for Melbourne. She’s an amazing player, so I was just also happy to share the final with her.”

Andreeva, shrewd and efficient, swept through the final three games, dropping just four points across them as she closed out the final in 64 minutes, winning the title on her main draw debut.

“Mirra played such incredible tennis.” Mboko said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t really wake up feeling the best today. I feel like, looking back at this week, there’s so many positives I can take away.”

The Canadian will face Aussie wild card Emerson Jones in her first round match at Melbourne, which will be her Australian Open debut.

The world No.8, who defeated Marie Bouzkova, Maya Joint and Diana Shnaider to reach the final, dropped just 15 games in four matches and didn’t drop more than three games in any single set.

It sets her up well for a run in Melbourne, where she will meet Donna Vekic in a challenging first-rounder.

“Of course it’s a great preparation to go into Melbourne and to play in the Australian Open. You know, of course it gives me a lot of confidence to see myself play well on the court, and it’s just, in two days basically I’m going to play another match in Melbourne,” Andreeva said.

“I just have to bring the same level of my game and the same mindset into Melbourne. I think I’m going to play well there as well. Obviously I feel more confident after this win. Also winning a title is super special to me as well.”