‘Complete’ player Mirra Andreeva reminds Andy Roddick of ‘these’ two former Grand Slam champions
Mirra Andreeva beat World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the Indian Wells final to take home her second WTA 1000 title.
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Mirra Andreeva, Andy Roddick (Image via X/Australian Open, The Tennis Gazette)
Mirra Andreeva etched her name on record books when she won two consecutive WTA 1000 events in Dubai and Indian Wells. Her game reminded American former player Andy Roddick of two former WTA players, Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters, who also appeared in the latest episode of Roddick’s Served podcast.
Andreeva became the youngest player to win two consecutive WTA 1000 trophies after Hingis who had won Miami Open and Hilton Head in 1997. The 17-year-old beat 2025 ASB Classic champion Clara Tauson in the Dubai final before upsetting Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to deny the Belarusian her first singles title in the California desert. Following the win, the 2003 US Open champion spoke highly of the teenager, calling her a “complete” player.
It doesn’t look like she hits it [winners] harder than anyone else, it’s almost like she picks the right trajectory and shot. Kind of knocks it down, can play it high. It’s strange. It almost reminds me of – the serves better but the way Hingis used to play. She would play against your movement a little bit. It’s like she is a step ahead. It feels like the closest comparison is a combination of you [Clijsters] and Hingis.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
Andreeva, who reached the fourth round at this year’s Australian Open, tops the list with the most wins this season, winning 19 of them ahead of Iga Swiatek and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, both of who have won 18 matches each. The Indian Wells title was her third trophy of her career.
Martina Navratilova backs Mirra Andreeva to win Miami Open
Mirra Andreeva will next be on a quest for a third consecutive WTA 1000 title. She is the 11th seed at the Miami Open, the second event of the Sunshine Double. Tennis great Martina Navratilova, when asked if Andreeva has the ability to add one more WTA 1000 to her trophy cabinet, backed the youngster to win it.
Why not? It’s amazing, it’s a big ask, but…physically, she’s fit, obviously. But all those matches in a row? We’ll see. It’s all new to her. After that, she can take a break before going to Europe and getting on the clay. It’s doable. I didn’t think she would beat Sabalenka. I thought it was possible but not likely. Yet, here she is. She found a way.
Martina Navrtilova told WTA
Navratilova has also compared Andreeva’s game style to four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and to Justine Henin. If Andreeva wins the event in Florida, she will join an elite list.
She will become the only fifth player to clinch the Sunshine Double after Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek. The German is the only player from this lift to have taken home the Sunshine Double twice.
Andreeva, who stopped Swiatek from defending her crown, also became the second youngest to beat World No.1 and World No.2 in the last two rounds of a WTA event. The youngest is Tracy Austin, who achieved the feat twice by beating Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Mirra Andreeva to kick-start her Miami Open campaign against Veronika Kudermetova
Mirra Andreeva has received a bye and will start her campaign at the Miami Open against Veronika Kudermetova. The 27-year-old Russian went past Wang Xinyu to set up the second-round clash with her countrywoman. The upcoming match will be Andreeva’s first meeting against Kudermetova.
Andreeva has also signed up for doubles in the event by partnering with Diana Shnaider. The Russian pair will play their first match against Robin Montgomery and McCartney Kessler.
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