Mirra Andreeva offered a candid reflection on what it was like to face her older sister Erika at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Wednesday, describing the experience as nerve-wracking for both.
The highly anticipated first-round match between the Andreeva sisters, their second-ever WTA-level encounter, ended prematurely after just 41 minutes. Erika was forced to retire early in the second set due to a knee injury, with Mirra leading 6-2, 1-0.
Although Erika broke serve in the opening game, she was clearly hindered physically for the remainder of the match, losing seven of the next eight games before calling it quits.
“We Were Both Super Nervous” – Mirra Reflects
“Going into the match, of course, we were both super nervous,” the 17-year-old Mirra admitted afterward.
“The last time we played each other, it went her way, and I couldn’t really handle the nerves. I felt like this time I managed to do it better, but of course, the match wasn’t at the greatest level because obviously she didn’t feel her best. So it’s not the way we wanted to finish, but I’m sure she’s going to recover fast and we’ll see her back on court soon.”
Their last meeting came six months ago at the Wuhan Open, where Erika claimed victory. With this result, the siblings are now tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record.
Looking Ahead: Mirra Prepares for Alexandrova
Later today, Mirra is set to take on Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round. Having spent minimal time on court due to her sister’s early retirement, Mirra quickly returned to practice.
“When I left the court, [coach] Conchita [Martinez] told me that in 25 minutes I’d have a practice session—but she said it was optional. We both felt I needed to hit some balls, loosen up, and relax a little bit,” said the rising Russian star.
Despite the abrupt ending to her match, Mirra remains focused as she advances through the draw, now carrying both emotional weight and extra motivation into her next encounter.
