Andreeva Storms Back for Adelaide Breakthrough
Facing an early deficit against rising Canadian talent, Mirra Andreeva unleashed a nine-game surge to claim the Adelaide International crown, signaling her mental growth at 18.
Under the baking Adelaide sun, the women’s final unfolded as a duel between the WTA’s youngest top-20 forces. Mirra Andreeva, the third seed at 18, absorbed an opening onslaught from Victoria Mboko, 19, who raced to a 3-0 lead with crisp crosscourt returns that exploited the hard courts’ speed. But Andreeva’s fire ignited, her heavy topspin forehands finding rhythm as she clawed back, evening the score and then some in a match that ended 6-3, 6-1.
The crowd’s energy shifted with the momentum, murmurs turning to cheers as Andreeva won 13 straight points from the brink. Mboko’s flat backhand slices had pinned her deep early, but the Russian adjusted, dipping low for a 1–2 pattern that chipped returns before unleashing inside-out winners. This tactical pivot not only stole the first set but drained the Canadian’s early edge, her serves landing shorter under the pressure.
“The ball was flying a bit more than I expected, but I just had to trust my feet,” Andreeva said post-match.
Early pressure exposes vulnerabilities
Mboko‘s aggressive starts defined her quick rise, with titles at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal and the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open showcasing her flat-hitting prowess on fast surfaces. In Adelaide, she broke twice at the outset, her down-the-line passes forcing Andreeva into defensive lobs that floated long. The heat amplified every error, sweat beading as the third seed reset her stance, eyes narrowing on the baseline to counter the Canadian’s pace.
Yet Andreeva’s youth masked a growing steel; she had reached six finals already, this her fifth triumph. The court’s grippy texture began to suit her spin, allowing forehands to skid with bite and pull Mboko wide. That 3-0 hole became a launchpad, her footwork quickening to chase every ball, turning defense into dominance.
Mental timeout halts the fightback
Carrying the first-set surge into the second, Andreeva broke for 3-0, her inside-in forehands climbing high before dropping heavy. Mboko, pulse racing, called a medical timeout as trainers monitored her blood pressure amid the intensity. She returned to snag a game at 3-1 with a low underspin backhand that skidded low, forcing a mishit, but the respite couldn’t stem the tide.
Andreeva’s patterns varied now—crosscourt rallies blending into sudden down-the-line surprises—leaving Mboko lunging. The Russian closed 6-1, her poise a quiet roar that echoed the psychological wars of the tour. As she lifted the trophy, the relief mixed with resolve, eyes already on Melbourne’s majors.
Across the complex, the men’s final loomed with Tomas Machac set to face Ugo Humbert, another chapter in Adelaide’s hard-court saga. Andreeva’s comeback, born of adjustment and grit, previews a 2026 where her mental edge could redefine rivalries among the tour’s bold young guard.