Aryna Sabalenka drops truth bomb on ‘wrong people’ and ‘abusive things’ at Mirra Andreeva’s age after Indian Wells final defeat

Teen sensation Mirra Andreeva scripted history with a three-set triumph over World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final.

Aryna Sabalenka drops truth bomb on ‘wrong people’ and ‘abusive things’ at Mirra Andreeva’s age after Indian Wells final defeat

Mirra Andreeva, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via WTA/X)

The reason why Mirra Andreeva is achieving incredible success at the age of just 17 is because she has a great team, as per Aryna Sabalenka. On Sunday, the teenager came from a set down to topple the World No.1 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the Indian Wells final to win two WTA 1000 titles in a row.

Sabalenka, who was bidding on to win her first singles title in the California desert, praised Andreeva’s team during the runner-up speech. Like always after defeat in big events, she didn’t spare her team and jokingly took a dig at them.

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When asked in the press conference to elaborate on what she meant and whether the team really plays a big role in a youngster’s career, Sabalenka said she couldn’t agree more. She cited her own example and claimed that surrounding herself with the right people at Andreeva’s age would have made a lot of difference.

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I’d say that, for example talking about me in that age, I was surrounded by so many wrong people. Finally when I was able to get rid of those people and, how to say, I surrounded myself with the right people, you kind of like you have more confidence and everything is more calm and the atmosphere in the team is very healthy.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

Andreeva is coached by 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who she hired last year. The 52-year-old Spaniard, who had also won the Federation Cup for Spain and had captained the men’s national team in the Davis Cup, had previously guided Garbine Muguruza to a Wimbledon triumph in 2017. Sabalenka lauded Martinez for the way she is guiding Andreeva.

So team is very important. I can see she has her family who is helping her with, I’m sure, with a lot of decisions. She has Conchita (Martinez), which is really experienced person and very nice person. She doesn’t have the abusive things.

Aryna Sabalenka added

Aryna Sabalenka regrets not listening to her family during teenage years

Aryna Sabalenka thinks that she lost some years while she was surrounded by the wrong people. She is convinced that if she had worked with a great team and had listened to her family more then, she would have achieved what Mirra Andreeva is doing at present.

Mirra Andreeva (2)
Mirra Andreeva (Image via WTA/X)

Because of that experience, I’m much more mature right now and I know things. But of course, I wish I would be a little bit smarter in that age or I would listen to my family a little bit more.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

It was Sabalenka’s second singles final at Indian Wells following her defeat in the summit clash of the 2023 Indian Wells to Elena Rybakina. Rybakina’s campaign in the tournament was ended by Andreeva in the fourth round.

En route to her successful run, Andreeva also denied Iga Swiatek a chance to claim back-to-back titles in the WTA 1000 tournament with a three-set win in the semifinals. Swiatek will now have to wait for the Miami Open to start her quest for her first WTA title since the 2024 French Open.

Mirra Andreeva achieves career-best ranking after beating Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells final

Mirra Andreeva arrived at Indian Wells as World No.11. She has now climbed five places up to sit at the No.6 position on the WTA rankings.

Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva (Image via WTA/X)

With her win over Aryna Sabalenka, Andreeva clinched her third career and second title of the season. She has become the youngest player to beat World No.1 and World No.2 in a WTA event. The Russian is also the youngest with 12 consecutive WTA 1000 victories since 2009.