Quarterfinals Preview: Andreeva vs. Anisimova in Dubai

Defending champion Mirra Andreeva is set to face No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Both players started their campaigns late, shaking off the rust with third-round matches on Wednesday, their first of the week. Anisimova triumphed over wild card Janice Tjen with a score of 6-1, 6-3, while Andreeva secured her victory against Jaqueline Cristian in a match filled with 13 service breaks, winning 7-5, 6-3.

Both Andreeva and Anisimova had received first-round byes and benefited from second-round walkovers as Daria Kasatkina and Barbora Krejcikova withdrew due to injuries. Last week in Doha, they exited early; Anisimova had to retire against Karolina Pliskova due to illness, and Andreeva lost to Victoria Mboko after holding a match point.

Past Encounter

The two players have met once before on the WTA Tour, with Anisimova ending Andreeva’s 13-match winning streak 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 in Miami about 11 months ago.

Andreeva Reflects on Performance

Andreeva was candid about her play after accumulating 31 unforced errors, including seven double faults. “Honestly, I feel my game was really far from perfect today,” she said in her on-court interview. Despite her challenges, she was relieved to win, stating, “It was really tough to play here today, I really struggled with conditions.”

Throughout the match against Cristian, Andreeva demonstrated a recurring pattern of strong returns but also faced difficulties, consistently relinquishing breaks of serve. However, the 18-year-old managed to focus when it mattered, while Cristian lamented missed opportunities during critical points.

Strategic Insights

Andreeva utilized her famous notebook, which garnered attention last year, to guide her play. She explained, “After I didn’t serve for the [first] set, I said, ‘I broke her once, broke her twice’—I just tried to do it again.” This strategy helped her regain focus and ultimately secure the win.

Looking Ahead

This tournament is unique for Andreeva as it marks her first time competing as the defending champion. She expressed anticipation for the match against Anisimova, feeling more motivated than ever. “Tomorrow is probably going to be better, because I’m going to get into the rhythm,” she stated, looking to avenge her previous loss to Anisimova.