Mirra Andreeva, the rising Russian star, celebrated her 17th birthday in style by securing a spot in the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open. Her impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory over reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, the No. 7 seed, marked her second consecutive year reaching the fourth round in the Spanish capital.
Andreeva’s breakthrough came last year at the age of 15, when she stunned the tennis world with a run to the fourth round as a wild card. She defeated two Top 20 players before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. This year, she has continued her ascent, earning her second career Top 10 victory over Vondrousova.
Against Vondrousova, Andreeva displayed her maturity and resilience. She raced out to early leads in both sets but faced a setback in the first set, losing four straight games to trail 5-4. However, she regained her composure and won nine of the last 10 games, showcasing her impressive serving performance in the second set.
Andreeva’s growth has been evident both on and off the court. She has been working with former Grand Slam champion Conchita Martinez as a coach on a trial basis, and the partnership has yielded positive results. Andreeva credits Martinez with helping her develop a more mature mindset.
“I feel more like a grown-up,” Andreeva said. “I know that I will not be able to win a match without doing something myself.”
Andreeva’s next challenge will be the winner of the match between No. 11 seed Caroline Garcia and No. 21 seed Jasmine Paolini. The Russian teenager is confident in her abilities and eager to continue her impressive run in Madrid.
