India, March 15 -- Iga Swiatek, the pre-tournament favourite at Indian Wells, suffered a semi-final defeat against 17-year-old Mira Andreeva on Saturday. The young Russian player started strong, clinching the first set in a tie-break (7-1), 7-6. Swiatek ranked World No. 2, made a comeback by winning the second set decisively at 6-1, suggesting she was regaining her form. However, in the final set, Andreeva triumphed with a convincing 6-3 victory, securing the match with scores of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.

The match was marked by moments of drama, as Swiatek found herself embroiled in controversy. The Polish player displayed visible frustration, struggling to assert control throughout various phases of the match, which led to her expressing anger towards herself and her team. In a notable incident, she had a confrontation with a ball kid who handed her the ball, only for Swiatek to angrily slam it to the ground, leaving the ball kid visibly shocked as it bounced back towards her team.

During the third set, Swiatek approached the chair umpire to voice her concerns about being distracted by ball kids who were moving during her opponent's serves.

Andreeva's winning streak now stands at 11 matches, effectively ending Swiatek's run of 10 consecutive victories.

In the finals, Andreeva will compete against Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1. The two players have met six times previously, with Andreeva securing only one victory (in the 2024 French Open semi-finals). This year, Sabalenka has defeated her twice, with scores of 6-3, 6-2 in Brisbane and 6-1, 6-2 in Melbourne.

Following her semi-final triumph, Andreeva remarked, "The matches we played this year didn't go in my favour. I can say she almost overwhelmed me, especially in Melbourne. I intend to seek revenge, as I have nothing to lose, and I believe the match will be quite entertaining, filled with many winners and great points."

"Now it will be Conchita's responsibility to prepare me adequately for this match, and I trust she will do so. However, I will approach it like any other match, aiming to perform at my best."

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