Mirra Andreeva Admits She Faced Added Pressure After Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek’s Roland Garros Exits

The North American hardcourt swing is underway, with several top players competing at the Citi Open. But Mirra Andreeva is not in Washington and was last seen in action in the second round of Wimbledon, where she faced defeat at the hands of Barbora Krejcikova.

On the grass swing, Andreeva won just one match, against Magda Linette in the first round of Wimbledon, because she suffered an opening-round exit at the Bad Homburg Open. But on the clay swing, Andreeva lifted the biggest title of her career. At the French Open, the Russian ace breezed past Poland’s Maja Chwalinska to win her career’s first Grand Slam singles title. This Roland Garros has seen quite a few shocking results.

Men’s two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to his wrist injury. Then Jannik Sinner, due to cramps, lost his second-round match. A day later, Novak Djokovic crashed out.

On the women’s side, four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek lost in the fourth round and last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka suffered a quarterfinal exit. Reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina lost in the second round. And their exits added pressure on Andreeva as she admitted the same during her appearance on Andy Roddick‘s Served podcast.

Yes, I would say that added a little bit of pressure in me because obviously I didn’t expect Aryna to lose. But I was watching that match as well. I watch a lot of tennis, even when I’m playing. I watch women, I watch men, everything. So I follow…and obviously I saw what happened with Jannik. I saw what happened with Aryna, with Iga, with Rybakina as well. I saw so many top seeds fall, and then after when Aryna lost as well, I’m like, well, this is interesting.

Andreeva had performed decently in the clay events prior to Roland Garros. She won the Linz Open, reached the semifinal of the Stuttgart Open, lost to Marta Kostyuk in the final of the Madrid Open, and to eventual runner-up Coco Gauff in the Italian Open quarterfinal.

And then after, of course, I started to be a little bit more nervous. I felt like I had a little bit more pressure. But then at the same time, I just tried to talk to Conchita, to talk to my psychologist, not to think about that, just try to focus on what I’ve been doing. And I guess it worked.

Mirra Andreeva added

Andreeva will next be playing the Canadian Open, the main draw of which starts on August 2. Victoria Mboko is the reigning champion.

Mirra Andreeva explains why it’s important for her to let out her emotions

Mirra Andreeva has often invited criticism due to her on-court behavior. She has hurled profanities, broken rackets, and even yelled at the crowd. During the Served podcast, Andreeva explained why emotional outbursts are important for her.

So when I really try to kind of let myself, let it out, scream, I don’t know, break a racket, smash the ball, and then after it’s just kind of, it’s just easier to play like, the glass gets full of water and then after it just it explodes, and then you just feel easier.

Andreeva has so far played four finals. She won the Adelaide International by defeating Victoria Mboko, then clinched the Linz Open against Anastasia Potapova. After her Madrid Open defeat, she won the Paris Major.

Andreeva made her Canadian Open debut last year and lost in the third round. She has won two WTA 1000 titles so far: the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships and the Indian Wells Open the same year.

Also read: Alexandra Eala Explains Why She Turned Down Doubles Reunion with Venus Williams at the Washington Open