For months, Mirra Andreeva looked like the fearless new face of the WTA — an 18-year-old storming through the world’s best. But as she arrives at the Wuhan Open 2025, the story has shifted. The Russian prodigy is still ranked No. 5 in the world, yet her momentum has cooled.
After a shocking third-round loss to Sonay Kartal in Beijing, Andreeva’s run of early exits has stretched to eleven straight tournaments without a semifinal. The teenager who once threatened to break the Sabalenka–Swiatek–Gauff stronghold now finds herself, alongside Amanda Anisimova, on the outside looking in.
Staying Positive Amid Pressure
In her pre-tournament press conference, Andreeva faced the questions head-on.
“Of course it’s not easy to lose — nobody likes it, but looking back, I think my season hasn’t been bad. I just try to hold on to the positive moments I’ve had on court.”
Andreeva acknowledged that the losses hurt, but she’s learning to accept them as part of the process.
“You can’t win every match or every tournament,” she said. “Sometimes it hurts more when you’re close to winning, but I’ve learned to take a step back, forget, and move on. That’s life. That’s tennis.”
Behind the calm words lies a player still battling the expectations that came with her rapid rise. Once hailed as unstoppable, Andreeva now faces the tougher task — rediscovering joy and patience amid growing scrutiny.
Support, Self-Reflection, and a Softer Side
The Russian praised her psychologist, coach Conchita Martínez, and her entire team for helping her handle the emotional load.
“It took some time before I could really say what I felt,” she admitted. “Now I can talk openly — they all know what I’m going through, and that helps a lot. We’ve worked hard together, and I hope it starts to pay off soon.”
Andreeva, known for her humor, also lightened the mood by joining the Labubu craze — the collectible toy fad made popular by Naomi Osaka.
“Before Beijing, I didn’t have any Labubu dolls,” she laughed. “Now I have five — though I had to give one to Conchita, which I wasn’t happy about. But sharing is good!”
As she prepares for Wuhan, Ningbo, and a possible berth at the WTA Finals, Andreeva is chasing more than ranking points — she’s searching for rhythm, confidence, and the version of herself that made her unstoppable earlier this season.
Her first opponent in Wuhan will be Germany’s Laura Siegemund.