Sitting at a tall table in the VIP area of the Mutua Madrid Open, Mirra Andreeva faced a large gathering of press calmly. Over 20 reporters and photographers were present on Tuesday, focused on her words and reactions.
Just two years ago, when she was 15, Andreeva made her mark in Madrid. At that time, receiving so much media attention before a tournament would have seemed unbelievable. However, that was before her impressive run to the Round of 16 in the WTA 1000 event, which signaled the start of a promising career.
Andreeva commented, “It honestly feels like only a week has passed.” She added, “But I`m really excited to return to Madrid. I have fantastic memories here.”
She is set to turn 18 soon, but her early success sets her apart. On Thursday, she won her second-round match against Marie Bouzkova with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
This season, Andreeva has won two WTA 1000 tournaments consecutively, in Dubai and Indian Wells. In both events, she defeated strong opponents, including World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and World No. 7 Elena Rybakina, and beat Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final.
Andreeva`s rapid ascent is remarkable. She is currently ranked No. 7 in the PIF WTA Rankings, making her the youngest player to reach the Top 10 in 18 years. Among the three teenagers in the Top 100, she is the highest ranked; the next highest, Alexandra Eala, is No. 72.
Usually, teenage players are still developing physically and may not have the same strength as older competitors. Despite this, Andreeva leads all players in this year`s WTA 1000 events in both winners (398) and aces (78). What`s even more impressive is that she is expected to gain even more physical strength.
A striking statistic highlighting her talent is her 9-9 record against Top 10 players, achieved at such a young age.
Reflecting on her impressive performance in Madrid two years ago, what did that reveal about her game`s current state and future potential?
Andreeva paused before replying, “I`m not sure. At the time, I didn`t fully appreciate reaching the Round of 16 or how significant it was. But looking back now… it wasn`t bad at all, I guess.”
Something special
Her 2023 season started emotionally.
Two best friends, both 15 and having trained together for years, faced each other in the Australian Open junior girls` final. It was an intense and memorable match, lasting 3 hours and 18 minutes, with Alina Korneeva winning by just one point (139 to Andreeva`s 138).
Her first professional tournament of that year was the ITF W60 event in Chiasso, Switzerland in April, where she won all seven matches, including qualifiers. The following week, she won another six matches in Bellinzona before receiving a wild card entry to the main draw in Madrid, ranked No. 194.
This marked her debut at a WTA Tour event.
In the first round, Andreeva faced Leylah Fernandez, a Top 50 player known for reaching the US Open final as a teenager in 2021. Andreeva won 6-3, 6-4, saving five of six break points. This win made her only the second 15-year-old to defeat a Top 50 player at a WTA 1000 event.
Fernandez commented later, “I tried to put that match behind me at the time. But Mirra certainly has something special, seen in how composed she was on such a significant stage. Playing against someone younger than you is always tricky, particularly when I`m often seen as the youngest myself.”
She added, “I recall how nervous I was at 15. The way Mirra handled those nerves and performed, not just then but the following year too, was remarkable. It made me think, `We should watch her; she`s likely to achieve great things soon.`”
The next day, Andreeva continued her impressive run, defeating World No. 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia with a commanding 7-6(8), 6-3 victory.
Andreeva told the press, “I`m a little surprised to reach the third round, but people kept telling me that the top players` game level is similar to mine, they just have more consistency. The mental aspect is different, but the playing level is quite close.”
On her 16th birthday, playing in Madrid, Andreeva secured her 16th consecutive professional win by beating Magda Linette 6-3, 6-3. This advanced her to the Round of 16, where she would face the reigning Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
As the youngest player ever to reach the Round of 16 at a WTA 1000 event, Andreeva faced a tough challenge against World No. 2 Sabalenka. Sabalenka`s power proved decisive in her 6-3, 6-1 win, hitting 28 winners compared to Andreeva`s 14.
What are her memories of that standout debut two years ago in Madrid?
Andreeva stated, “I can say I`m proud of what I achieved back then. But this time, I`m aiming higher.”
And she has indeed achieved more. She later turned the tables, defeating the now World No. 1 Sabalenka in a three-set match to win the Indian Wells final in 2025.
Sabalenka commented on Andreeva`s progress a week later in Miami, saying, “Her results and game improvements are happening so quickly. She`s very young, so I can`t say exactly when she`ll win a Grand Slam or become World No. 1, but I`m certain she will achieve both.”
Focusing on the now
Like many teenagers, Andreeva spends time on social media, making her highly aware of the increasing expectations placed upon her.
Speaking in Madrid, Andreeva noted, “Many people comment, and sometimes those thoughts creep into your mind, causing you to overthink. I`ve gone through that, but I have an excellent team supporting me. I discuss my feelings, and they all try to assist me.”
She added, “I believe I`ve learned how to manage this now, which naturally makes things a bit simpler for me.”
Perhaps more than anyone else on the Hologic WTA Tour, Coco Gauff can relate to the pressure Andreeva faces. Gauff had her own breakthrough moment six years prior, also at 15, at Wimbledon.
Ranked No. 313 at the time, Gauff qualified for Wimbledon by winning three matches and then faced five-time champion Venus Williams in the opening round. In a match seen by many as a symbolic shift, Gauff beat Williams (who was still in the Top 50) 6-4, 6-4. She advanced to the Round of 16 before being stopped by the eventual winner, Simona Halep.
Gauff reflected on Tuesday, “As a young player, I think I had almost naive confidence. Defeating Venus was certainly surprising, but without disrespecting the players I faced after that, I just felt incredibly sure I would win. It felt like it was my destiny, even though it probably wasn`t expected.”
She continued, “When you`re young, you play without pressure because nobody has high expectations for you, and you don`t necessarily have them for yourself either. Then, you might realize that the gap in skill isn`t as wide as it seems when you first step onto the court against top players.”
Before the Madrid tournament began, during a press conference with the large media crowd, Andreeva was asked if she had received any valuable advice for managing her path towards becoming a star.
Andreeva responded, without revealing the source, “Someone advised me to focus solely on the point I`m currently playing. If a point doesn`t go as planned, just reset and concentrate on the next one, starting fresh. That`s the approach I aimed for in Dubai and Indian Wells.”
Now back in Madrid, the focus isn`t on a sudden emergence, but on consistently performing at a high level.
