In the world of tennis, Mirra Andreeva is a name that has been ricocheting from one end of the court to the other. This rising Russian star, in a matter of months, has turned the predictions of renowned tennis experts into reality. Remember when Aryna Sabalenka foresaw Andreeva’s entry into the top 10? Well, not only has she achieved that feat, but she did so within a mere two months of the prediction.
Andreeva’s victorious performance at the Dubai Tennis Championships led to Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, lauding her for her indomitable mental strength. He labelled her as “the real deal,” a tag that she’s living up to with her swift ascent in the tennis world. Macci’s quirky reference to her as a “cheeky rabbit” turned out to be more than just a playful analogy.
Before Andreeva’s monumental final against Aryna Sabalenka, Macci offered his insight into her playing style. He celebrated Andreeva’s game for its lack of shortcomings, dubbing her a “turbo-charged Russian Rabbit” in reference to her superior agility. Her laser focus and solid backhand were also spotlighted, with Macci predicting that she’s “on the Run to number one.”
It wasn’t just Macci who saw the budding potential in Andreeva. Former American pro Andy Roddick had also anticipated that she would eventually clinch the coveted number one spot. Andreeva’s back-to-back title triumphs in Dubai and Indian Wells have made her the youngest player to achieve such a feat since Martina Hingis in 1997.
Her victory over world number one Sabalenka was a testament to her tenacity. In a post-match speech that was as amusing as it was inspiring, Andreeva thanked herself for her relentless determination and belief. She humorously acknowledged how she had to “run like a rabbit” to keep up with Sabalenka’s powerful play, thereby validating Macci’s rabbit analogy.
Macci, following her Dubai victory, characterized Andreeva as an “explosive Russian Firecracker.” He noted that her initial fiery temper evolved into steely resolve, which he saw as a positive sign of her impending rise to the number one spot. Her recent victories, he pointed out, would undoubtedly instil fear in her competitors.
With her triumph over Sabalenka, Andreeva has ascended to an enviable position. Not only has she managed to beat both the number one and number two (Iga Swiatek) in the same tournament, but she has also become the third-youngest woman ever to win the Indian Wells title, following Martina Hingis (1998) and Serena Williams (1999).
Her performance against Sabalenka drew praises from the defeated Belarusian herself, who acknowledged Andreeva’s “incredible run.” The tennis world seems to be in awe of Andreeva’s victory, with Russian legend Maria Sharapova and Czech icon Martina Navratilova showering her with praises. Navratilova noted that Andreeva played “well above her years,” while Sharapova hailed her poise and well-deserved win.
Rick Macci drew a parallel between Andreeva and Sharapova, stating that both players exhibit a similar mental fortitude and single-minded focus. With Sharapova having won five major titles in her career, the question that looms large is, how many major titles will Mirra Andreeva secure in her burgeoning tennis career? Only time will tell. But for now, she will be enjoying her career-high ranking of number six, earned in less than a week after this piece was written.
