“She was actually the first one”: Mirra Andreeva names ‘only female’ player to offer support in early days

Russia’s rising tennis star, Mirra Andreeva, has opened up about a heartwarming gesture from Canada’s Bianca Andreescu during the early stages of her career. The 17-year-old, widely regarded as one of the sport’s most promising talents, has already made a significant impact on the WTA Tour.

Most recently, Andreeva stunned the tennis world with a remarkable run at the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells, where she defeated the reigning world No. 1 in the final with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. In doing so, she achieved several historic milestones—becoming the third-youngest player to claim the Indian Wells women’s singles title and the second-youngest to win a WTA 1000 event or Grand Slam by defeating both the world No. 1 and No. 2 in the semifinals and final. Before overcoming Aryna Sabalenka in the final, Andreeva also took down world No. 2 Iga Świątek in a grueling 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 semifinal battle.

Reflecting on her journey, Andreeva recently shared how Andreescu’s kindness stood out. The world No. 6 revealed that the 24-year-old was the only female player who reached out to offer support when she was just starting on tour.

“It was my first tournament in Madrid, kind of a breakthrough for me. I lost in the R16, and during the tournament, I got a message from Bianca Andreescu,” Andreeva recalled. “She was actually the first one, and I think the only female tennis player who texted me. She told me that if I ever needed advice or support, I could always reach out to her, that we could have a chat or a call—she was super nice about it.”

Andreeva also revealed that Andreescu congratulated her after her Indian Wells triumph. “She texted me again after I won the tournament, saying some really nice words,” she added.

With such support from experienced players, Andreeva continues to solidify her place among the WTA’s elite, proving she’s a force to be reckoned with on the court.