Mirra Andreeva has advanced to the last 16 of the Brisbane International after a comeback win over Olivia Gadecki in her opening match.
Andreeva, seeded sixth, recovered from a slow start to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and set up a meeting with Linda Noskova in the next round.
Heading into the season ranked ninth in the world, the Russian youngster has been highlighted as one of the players to keep an eye on this year.
Despite being only 18 years old, she already has three WTA titles to her name. Last season, she made headlines by winning consecutive WTA 1000 events in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Mirra Andreeva inspired by legends Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal
Now looking to build on that momentum in Brisbane, Andreeva was asked how she deals with the expectation that her career will not be considered complete until she wins a Grand Slam.
“I do have the same mindset actually. Obviously for some people, when they say that they had a successful career for them, the successful career was to play healthy or not have any injuries or just to enjoy every match that you play. For someone it’s if I don’t win 10 Grand Slams, I’m a failure or I’m a bad player or whatever,” she began by saying.
“For me, I do feel like I have always wanted to be like Roger [Federer], like Serena [Williams], like Rafa [Nadal], because I was looking up to them, and I still do, to be the best player in the world.
“I do put some pressure on myself sometimes, but now I have also learned that if I try to just give my best in every match that I play and at the same time enjoy the moment, then I just realize that I will just play and see what the life will bring to me, and I’m not going to put so much pressure on myself thinking that I have to win a Grand Slam to be a successful player.
“So I kind of decided to think like that this year and see where that brings me, and then we’ll talk about that next year, I guess.”
Mirra Andreeva says she was struggling mentally even while winning
Between them, Federer, Nadal and Williams have over 60 Grand Slam titles, making them the sort of icons any young player would look up to.
Andreeva is still in the early stages of her career and should not be weighed down by comparisons just yet. She has shown enough potential already to suggest she will have a bright future in the game.
Speaking from Brisbane, she reflected on what has helped her find success so early on.
“Yeah, well, I can say that after I won the title in Dubai, and actually probably before the title, I was feeling very down,” the Russian star said.
“I don’t know what’s the thing with players that win big tournaments, that they always say that before the tournament I was not feeling my best, I was feeling like this is obviously not going to be the tournament that I’m going to win.
“Then I guess by me not expecting much from myself, I started to play well. Then I started to believe in myself, and then that’s how I won the tournament.
“Then after that, I just kind of tried to carry on with the same mindset. You know, until the end of the year, sometimes it works; sometimes it didn’t. That’s why I didn’t win every tournament that I played, obviously.
“Yeah, I’m just trying to kind of play with the mindset of whatever I had in those tournaments that I won, and I think that’s maybe… maybe that’s the key. I have no idea. I’m not experienced enough to say.”
The response shows a level of maturity beyond her years despite all eyes being on her every move already.
The 18-year-old is currently ranked inside the WTA top 10 – and at an age where most players are still finding their feet on tour – which only adds to expectations around how far she can go in 2026.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
