Andreeva in pursuit of Gauff’s numbers and AO 2025 glory

Jasmine Paolini had too much for her in the last four, but Andreeva had laid down a marker. She claimed her first Tour-level title at the Iasi Open in July, then won Olympic silver in the doubles alongside youngster Diana Shnaider, back on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

Although unable to get going at Wimbledon or the US Open, she rounded off 2024 with deep runs in Beijing and Ningbo, reaching the final of the latter tournament but losing to compatriot Daria Kasatkina.

Andreeva finished the year with 34 main draw wins on the Tour – the most of any teenager, eight ahead of runner-up Linda Noskova (26).

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Andreeva has maintained that momentum heading into 2025.

Sabalenka might have got her own back with a straight-sets triumph in the Brisbane International semi-finals, but there was little sign of that loss shaking Andreeva as she took to the court at the John Cain Arena on Sunday for her AO 2025 bow.

Bouzkova was no match as Andreeva – the youngest player ranked in the top 20 of the WTA since Nicole Vaidisova in October 2006 – shrugged off the odd wobble, as well as a storm that caused a delay, to throw a player off nine years older than 6. -3 6-3 in just over 90 minutes.

Sunday’s win means Andreeva has now won 16 of her 23 major matches. In the 21st century, only two players boast a better Grand Slam win ratio while 18 or younger than Andreeva’s 69.6% – Vaidisova (72.2% – 26/36) and Maria Sharapova
(75% – 24/32).

Meanwhile, since the start of 2000, only three female players can boast more wins before turning 18 – Vaidisova (26), Sharapova (24) and Gauff (18).

Gauff’s victory comparison is therefore firmly in Andreeva’s sights at AO 2025.