Ex-ATP Player Believes Mirra Andreeva Will Eventually Stop Representing Russia: “It’s Just a Matter of Time”

Former ATP player Andrei Chesnokov believes Mirra Andreeva will eventually leave Russia like several of her fellow tennis players. Andreeva, the highest-ranked Russian, said at this year’s Australian Open that changing her nationality never crossed her mind.

Since the Russia-Ukraine war, Daria Kasatkina, Anna Blinkova, Anastasia Potapova, Polina Kudermetova, Alina Charaeva, Alisa Oktiabreva, and Oksana Selekhmeteva, among others, have changed their sporting nationality. Chesnokov, during his interview with Sport RBC, said he is convinced Andreeva will follow in her fellow players’ footsteps by leaving Russia.

I think Andreeva will leave, it’s just a matter of time. She lives and trains in France, so she will definitely leave, but our other leaders at the top… The trend now is that they all leave. You see, everyone chooses what’s most comfortable for them.

Andrei Chesnokov said

Andreeva, who clinched her career’s first Grand Slam title at the French Open, will next be seen in action at the China Open. She will face Oleksandra Oliynykova or Yuan Yue in the opening round. Reigning champion Amanda Anisimova was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury.

Apart from the French Open, Andreeva also reached the finals of the Adelaide International, Linz Open, and the Madrid Open. She only lost in Madrid, to Marta Kostyuk. In the Paris Major, the 19-year-old defeated fellow first-time Grand Slam finalist Maja Chwalinska.

Leylah Fernandez on her win over Mirra Andreeva

Before arriving in Beijing, Mirra Andreeva competed at the WTA 500 Singapore. She first breezed past Aliaksandra Sasnovich, then faced Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinal, where she clinched a straight-set win over her.

It’s such a great win. The way that I played, the way that I fought in the second set. It wasn’t an easy match to begin with, physically and then, of course, mentally. I’m just happy that I was able to get through the finish line today. It just feels like I’ve played her so many times over the years.

Leylah Fernandez said after the match (H/T: Tennis World USA)

The win helped Fernandez improve her head-to-head record over Andreeva to 3-2. After knocking out Andreeva, the Canadian ace eliminated Chwalinska in the semifinals before she defeated Talia Gibson in the final to end her title drought. It was her first title since the 2025 Japan Open.

We’ve practiced together a few times, so it’s always a competitive battle. It just feels like I’m figuring her out, and, same as her, she’s figuring me out. So it’s kind of that push and pull. I’m not going to say that from then on I’m going to win against her all the time because that’s not the case. We never know the result. We just know that it’s going to be a battle.

Leylah Fernandez added

Fernandez will also be competing at the China Open, where she will kick off her campaign against Marina Bassols Ribera or Kamilla Rakhimova. The 2021 US Open finalist will be competing in the main draw of the China Open for the third time in her career. She failed to make deep runs in her previous two appearances.

Andreeva, on the other hand, is a one-time quarterfinalist in Beijing, reaching the stage on her second appearance in 2024. Last year, her run ended in the fourth round.

So far in her career, Andreeva has taken home two WTA 1000 titles, in last year’s Dubai Tennis Championships and the Indian Wells Open. This year, however, the only time she reached the final of a WTA 1000 event was at the Madrid Open. Fernandez has never taken home a WTA 1000 title but is a four-time quarterfinalist at this level.

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