In 2023, 16-year-old Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva made headlines at the Madrid Open when she described Andy Murray as “beautiful” during a Tennis Channel interview, gushing, “You see Andy Murray… you see his face, and he’s so beautiful in life. He’s so amazing.” The comment, made after her win over Magda Linette, went viral, prompting a humorous response from Murray on X, where he quipped, “Imagine how good she’s going to be when she gets her eyes fixed.” The lighthearted exchange endeared Andreeva to fans and highlighted her admiration for the three-time Grand Slam champion, whom she later called her idol.
Fast forward to 2025, Andreeva, now 18 and ranked No. 7, appeared to “snub” Murray in an interview at the Madrid Open, as reported by *Express* and *Daily Record*. When listing her tennis idols, she named Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic ahead of Murray, saying, “My tennis idol has always been Roger Federer. Then, of course, there was Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray… Also, Marat Safin.” This ranking placed Murray fourth, despite their prior connection, including Murray’s vocal support for her mental strength during her 2024 Australian Open comeback against Diane Parry. Andreeva had even framed Murray’s supportive tweet, carrying it in her bag as a cherished keepsake.
The perceived snub, while likely unintentional, reflects Andreeva’s evolving perspective as she matures on the WTA tour, where she’s won three titles and reached the 2024 French Open semi-finals. Her 2023 Madrid comment was a starry-eyed moment from a teenager awestruck by meeting her heroes, but by 2025, her focus seemed to shift toward Federer’s elegance, Nadal’s grit, and Djokovic’s dominance, possibly overshadowing Murray’s influence. At the 2025 Madrid Open, Andreeva performed strongly, defeating Marie Bouzkova, Magdalena Frech, and Yuliia Starodubtseva before falling to Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.
Murray, now retired and coaching Novak Djokovic, has maintained a supportive stance toward Andreeva, evidenced by their text exchanges, including her congratulating him on his 2023 Aix-en-Provence Challenger title. While the “snub” sparked media buzz, it’s more a reflection of Andreeva’s admiration for multiple legends than a rejection of Murray, whose impact on her career remains significant.
