Andreeva beats Pegula in straight sets to reach WTA Finals title match and secure world No 2 ranking

Russian player Mirra Andreeva, 19, has reached the championship match of the WTA Finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden by beating fifth seed Jessica Pegula of the United States 6-3, 6-4.

The French Open champion won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros six months ago. Andreeva, who drew attention when she came onto the tour at just 15 more than three years ago, has now earned a place in one of the most significant title matches of her career.

A year ago, Andreeva failed to qualify for the WTA Finals at all. After deciding not to compete in the final tournament week before the event, she missed out by only six points.

In her long-awaited debut at the event, the current world No 3 has not dropped a set. She has conceded just 18 games in four matches this week, including a 6-4, 6-0 win over top seed Aryna Sabalenka, a match in which she won 11 games in a row after falling behind 1-4.

Whatever happens in the final, Andreeva will rise to No 2 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career on Monday. World No 1 Elena Rybakina and No 3 Sabalenka both have a large number of points to defend at the Australian Open, where Rybakina beat Sabalenka in this year's final. That means the No 1 ranking could become a realistic target for Andreeva at the start of the 2027 season, especially if she finishes this week with the title.

Andreeva's opponent in the title match will be the winner of the second semi-final, between Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolina.

This year's WTA Finals began with an unexpected moment that spread widely. Pegula's sharp criticism of Andreeva after a practice session, in which she called her a “diva”, was caught on a hot microphone and broadcast. Pegula later apologised and both sides laughed the incident off. The two then met across the net in this tournament in the first official match of their careers against each other.

Heavy winds at Indian Wells early in the match made it difficult for both players to find rhythm and timing on serve and groundstrokes. Andreeva ended a messy early service game with a double fault to fall behind 2-1.

From there, Andreeva was by far the better player. She absorbed Pegula's first strike with her defensive skills and repeatedly drew errors from the American, while also choosing her moments to step inside the court, take the ball early and redirect it off both sides. She served well in decisive games, hitting 120mph service winners throughout the match.

Pegula had relied on her mental toughness rather than her top level for much of this week. Against Andreeva in this semi-final, however, she was too erratic and inconsistent, and her bid to reach the final ended in straight sets.