MIAMI — This is Mirra Andreeva’s first Miami Open, but her initial experience in Florida and the United States happened six years prior, foreshadowing her future achievements.

“I was very excited,” Andreeva recalled. “I was competing in the under-12 category and was very small.”

At just 11 years old, she achieved victory in doubles at the Eddie Herr tournament in Bradenton and was a finalist in singles. Weeks later, she secured the singles title at the Junior Orange Bowl in Coral Gables, defeating Yelyzaveta Kotliar 6-1, 6-3.

Kotliar, now 17, is still progressing in professional tennis, currently ranked No. 855 in the WTA rankings, a more typical path compared to Andreeva’s swift ascent.

After securing consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, Andreeva boasts a 12-match winning streak and is ranked No. 6. She is the youngest player within the Top 125 and currently the most in-form 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 to accomplish this feat at a WTA event in 35 years. She remains the only player with the potential to achieve the Sunshine Double, a feat only accomplished by two active players.

Andreeva will begin her Miami Open campaign with a second-round match against Veronika Kudermetova on Friday. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Andreeva commented on her Indian Wells victory, “I am extremely happy about the win. Now, unfortunately, I have to focus on Miami.”

This quick transition is certainly a shift, but Andreeva appears ready. Following hours of post-match media engagements after Indian Wells, she and her team had dinner and discussed events. With minimal sleep, a 3 a.m. wake-up call preceded a cross-country flight three hours later.

It was another 12 hours before they were settled, allowing just enough time for a supermarket visit. She and her mother, Raisa, prepared dinner and went to bed early. After a morning practice, Andreeva was again meeting with the press.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, has perhaps observed Andreeva’s development more closely than most. Their head-to-head record provides insight:

At 15 and 16, Andreeva made deep runs in Madrid, encountering Sabalenka, who defeated her in straight sets. However, shortly after turning 17, Andreeva stunned Sabalenka in the Roland Garros quarterfinals last year after losing the first set.

Her coach, Conchita Martinez, describes Andreeva as highly receptive and an exceptional learner. This pattern repeated this year. She lost to Sabalenka in the Brisbane semifinal and the Australian Open Round of 16, winning only three games in Melbourne.

Less than two months later, Andreeva once again rallied after losing the first set to defeat Sabalenka at Indian Wells. Despite Sabalenka’s graciousness in defeat, her gestures and lighthearted expressions during the trophy presentation couldn’t mask the sting of this loss.

“She definitely has the potential to be a great player,” Sabalenka stated in Miami. “Her movement is excellent, her serve is strong, and she hits impressive shots. She has finesse and has matured significantly. I think with time—though she’s progressing so rapidly and is so young—

“So, I cannot predict when she’ll win a Grand Slam or become World No. 1, but it’s definitely in her future.”