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DUBAI—Iga Swiatek has long touted the power of sports psychology as an essential part of her rise to the top of women’s tennis. Mirra Andreeva revealed she has added a similar weapon to her arsenal, one that helped her stun the world No. 2 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

“We started not a long time ago,” confirmed the 17-year-old, whose agent helped link her up with a sports psychologist. “I feel like it's been helping me a lot.

“I have some new tips. I have some new advices in a way how to work with my anger inside, what to do when I don't feel great, how to maintain my level when I feel great, how to keep being me.”

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I have some new tips. I have some new advices in a way how to work with my anger inside, what to do when I don't feel great, how to maintain my level when I feel great, how to keep being me. Mirra Andreeva on working with a sports psychologist

Andreeva’s mental improvements have been on display throughout the week at the WTA 1000 event, from winning two matches in one day on Wednesday to winning the final five games of her quarterfinal against Swiatek.

“Today when I was losing 1-3, I just honestly knew I was right there with her. It was just a matter of some points that didn't go my way,” explained Andreeva, who said she talks both tennis and life with the psychologist.

“I felt like it was out there on the court that I felt like still 1-3, but I feel strong. Yeah, I just thought that, ‘Okay, it's going to take some time but I'm going to go back and I'm going to try to come back and win the second set.’”

The teenager's mature thought process, much like her tennis, belies her still-young age, but both have helped her reach first a Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros and now a WTA 1000 final in under a year. Both times, she beat a world No. 2 (d. Aryna Sabalenka, Paris).

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“I feel like it's helping,” said Andreeva, who will next face either Elena Rybakina or Sofia Kenin for a spot in the final. “I hope that people can see it on the court. If people do see it on the court, I'm just really happy that it's working because I've been putting a lot of work into that.

“All of us did, every member of my team did put a lot of work into this. I'm just happy that for now it's working. I hope that it will continue working.”

Her team most prominently includes 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who coached former world No. 1 Garbiñe Mugurza to an SW19 title of her own back in 2017.

“My agent, he was an agent of Garbiñe Muguruza. Of course, he knew Conchita for a long time. He just asked me if I wanted to try.

“Of course, when I heard the name 'Conchita Martinez' in tennis, I was like, Oh, okay, let's try this, it's going to be interesting!” Andreeva added with a laugh.

Since hiring Martinez, Andreeva has cut her ranking in half, moving from just outside the Top 40 into the Top 15. Tentatively projected to achieve a new career-high ranking of No. 12, can Andreeva combine her technical and mental improvements to leave Dubai with a first WTA 1000 title?