LeBron James inadvertently helped a top WTA star win Indian Wells in 2025…
The first two WTA 1000 titles of 2025 were won by Amanda Anisimova (Qatar) and Mirra Andreeva (Dubai).
Heading to California for Indian Wells and the third WTA 1000 tournament of the year, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek were the favorites.
Both the Belarusian and the Pole reached the semifinals, but neither lifted the trophy.
Winning her second consecutive WTA 1000 event, Andreeva emerged victorious at Indian Wells and had an NBA legend to thank!
LeBron James and Mirra Andreeva’s unlikely interaction
After beating Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final, Andreeva told the Tennis Channel how James inspired her to victory.
“I was listening to the interview of LeBron James, and he was saying that even if you don’t feel like you’re there 100% physically, I’m going to choose to be 100% mentally, and he said that’s what makes us champions,” remembered Andreeva.
“So I kind of tried to do the same, it didn’t really work in the beginning, but with some time, in the end, I managed to overcome that, really tried to go for my shots, and act like one of the legends.”
Andreeva fought back from a set down to beat the world number one 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch her second career WTA 1000 title.
Reacting to Andreeva’s words and her win, James took to social media to congratulate the Russian.
“Mirra, Congratulations!” wrote James on his Instagram story.
“Happy to have helped, but honestly, you did that.
“All your hard work, drive and dedication towards your craft!
“Keep going!”
Andreeva kept going, but how well did she perform throughout the remainder of the 2025 season?
Mirra Andreeva failed to qualify for the WTA Finals
The Russian star looked to be a shoo-in for the season-ending WTA Finals post-Indian Wells, but things quickly unravelled.
Emotions ran high for Andreeva in Paris at the French Open, and she was forced to wipe away tears during her defeat to home favorite Lois Boisson.
Looking to bounce back at Wimbledon, Andreeva made an impressive run through to the quarterfinals, but was beaten in two tiebreakers by Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.
She didn’t reach another quarterfinal (singles) all season, as Andreeva began to struggle.
Andreeva failed to make it past the third round of both the Canadian Open and US Open, as the chasing pack continued to close in on her WTA Finals spot.
A poor Asian swing sealed her fate, with Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina taking her place at the final event of the season.
She still travelled to Riyadh for the WTA Finals, competing in doubles alongside Diana Shnaider, but failed to win a match.
And, when Madison Keys withdrew ahead of her final round-robin match, Andreeva wasn’t well enough to fill in as an alternate and make her WTA Finals debut.
Perhaps she will return in 2026 as a member of the eight-woman field…
Only time will tell if Andreeva can rediscover her best form in the new year, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Andreeva will look to improve upon her career-best run to the fourth round, when the 2026 Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18.
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