By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, March 10, 2025
Photo credits: Mateo Vilalba/Getty
Seventeen-year-old break-out star Mirra Andreeva has been an early-season revelation.
Dubai champion Andreeva isn’t surprised by her success—she’s too busy sustaining it.
A streaking Andreeva dismissed hobbled WTA ace leader Clara Tauson 6-3, 6-0 in an Indian Wells rematch of last month’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final.
It was Andreeva’s eighth straight win and sent her into a BNP Paribas Open round of 16 clash vs. former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
The 2024 Roland Garros semifinalist Andreeva said all the work she’s put in on the practice court with coach and former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez is paying off.
Andreeva is the youngest woman to win eight straight WTA 1000 matches since the introduction of the format in 2009.
“I wouldn’t say that I really surprised myself,” Andreeva said. “I kind of felt that sooner or later it’s going to come, but I just of course didn’t expect that it’s going to be this soon.
“You know, I take it. It’s fine. It’s better sooner than later.”
A smooth mover who possesses shrewd court sense, Andreeva is athletic, serves bigger than she looks and can hit her two-handed backhand with precision. Working with coach Conchita, Andreeva is trying to sharpen her transition skills and net game and strengthen her second serve.
Andreeva said she shared an immediate connection with Martinez—a bond that’s grown stronger as she’s risen up the rankings to a career-high mark of No. 11.
“At the first tournament that we went on together was already super great, and I felt very comfortable around her,” Andreeva said of Martinez. “I think she told me that it was the same for her, so thank God it’s not just me.
“The atmosphere is always, I feel like we’re both very energetic, and, you know, I feel like we both know how to be energetic, but when we need to also calm down and take things seriously.
“Yeah, I completely trust her with everything. I think she knows everything that’s going on in my life. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but, no, just like this. I’m just super happy to have her by my side.”
Of course, Martinez owned one of the best one-handed slice backhands of her era and a damaging topspin forehand.
Inspired by her coach and Hall of Famer Martina Hingis, her tennis hero, Andreeva said she’s working to develop an all-court game.
“I always like the way Martina Hingis was playing. I have seen some similarities, I would say,” Andreeva said. “She’s also playing smart. I would say she played smart and I’m also playing smart as her.
“I’m trying to, you know, play smart, but I think that the difference is that she was never afraid to, you know, come in and finish the point and be more aggressive.”
Andreeva, who is quick around the court, said she’s learning to use her speed as an offensive weapon and transition to net.
“Now I’m just starting to learn how to do it,” Andreeva said of her efforts to improve net play. “ I’m just, you know, the first matches of the year I’m starting to, I’m trying to force myself to finish the point at the net or to go, to step in the court.”
