MIAMI – This marks Mirra Andreeva’s first time at the Miami Open, and also her first visit to Florida and the United States in six years. Her previous trip hinted at the great achievements that were to come.
“I was very excited,” Andreeva recalled. “I was competing in the under-12 category and I was very small.”
She was only 11 years old at the time.
That young age didn’t prevent her from winning the doubles title at the Eddie Herr tournament in Bradenton and reaching the singles final. A few weeks later, she also secured the singles title at the Junior Orange Bowl in Coral Gables, defeating Yelyzaveta Kotliar with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
Kotliar, now 17, is still progressing in professional tennis, currently ranked No. 855 in the WTA rankings. This is a more typical career path compared to Andreeva’s meteoric rise.
After securing consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, Andreeva has achieved a 12-match winning streak and climbed to No. 6 in the rankings. She is currently the youngest player in the Top 125 and the hottest player on the WTA Tour.
At the BNP Paribas Open, she defeated both the World No. 1 and No. 2 players, becoming the youngest player in 35 years to accomplish this at a WTA event. She is also in contention for the Sunshine Double, a feat only achieved by two other active players.
Andreeva is set to begin her Miami Open campaign with a second-round match against Veronika Kudermetova on Friday. In a media interaction on Tuesday, Andreeva commented on her Indian Wells victory, saying, “I am super happy about the win. Now, unfortunately, I have to focus on Miami.”
The quick transition is definitely a challenge, but Andreeva appears ready for it. After spending several hours with media after her Indian Wells win, she and her team had dinner and discussed things. Despite only a few hours of sleep, she woke up at 3 a.m. for a cross-country flight three hours later.
It wasn’t until 12 hours later that they were settled, with just enough time to visit a supermarket. She and her mother, Raisa, prepared dinner and went to bed early. Following a morning practice session, Andreeva was once again meeting with the press.
Perhaps Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, has observed Andreeva’s development more closely than anyone. Their head-to-head record provides some perspective:
At 15 and 16 years old, Andreeva made deep runs in Madrid, only to be defeated by Sabalenka in straight sets. However, shortly after her 17th birthday, Andreeva achieved a stunning victory over Sabalenka in the Roland Garros quarterfinals last year, after losing the first set.
Her coach, Conchita Martinez, describes Andreeva as incredibly receptive and a fast learner. This year, a similar pattern unfolded. Andreeva lost to Sabalenka in the Brisbane semifinal and the Australian Open Round of 16, winning very few games in Melbourne.
However, less than two months later, Andreeva rebounded to defeat Sabalenka at Indian Wells, again after losing the first set. Despite Sabalenka’s gracious reaction in defeat, which included playful gestures during the trophy ceremony, this loss must have been painful.
“She definitely has the potential to be a great player,” Sabalenka said in Miami. “She moves well, serves effectively, and hits impressive shots. She has finesse and has matured significantly. Considering her rapid progress and young age, it’s hard to predict when she might win a Grand Slam or become World No. 1, but I believe she is certainly on that path.”
