On April 29, 2007, in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Mirra Andreeva was born. Fast forward just 17 years, and she’s become one of the most talked-about names in tennis. After a breakout 2024 season that saw her earn a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and her first WTA title in Iasi, Andreeva has carried her momentum into 2025 in spectacular fashion.
On February 22, Andreeva claimed the WTA 1000 title in Dubai, and on Sunday, March 16, she achieved a career milestone by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final. The 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback showcased her incredible resilience and poise under pressure.
Her path to the Indian Wells crown was just as impressive, with victories over top-tier opponents, including Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, and Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16. Andreeva’s victory makes her the youngest player to win the prestigious tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.
After her triumph, Andreeva reflected on the match. “Honestly, after the first set, where Aryna was just dominating, I didn’t know what to do and had negative thoughts about the missed opportunities,” Andreeva said.
Mirra Andreeva wins Indian Wells 2025 after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“But during the break, I went to the bathroom, looked at myself in the mirror, and started saying positive things to myself. It worked,“ she continued. “I’d like to thank myself for fighting to the end, believing in myself, and running like a rabbit because Aryna was firing shots at me”.
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When she declared her ambition to break Djokovic’s record
Back in 2023, Andreeva was already making waves on the WTA Tour. During Roland Garros, she was asked about her aspirations, and her response set the tone for her career goals.
“I know Djokovic has won 22 or 23 Grand Slams, so I want to get to 25, if possible,” Andreeva admitted. “But for now, my goal is to take it one match at a time, win the next match, and then win the one after that. That’s all—just focus on each match”.
WTA rankings after Indian Wells:
- 1- Aryna Sabalenka – 9,606 points
- 2- Iga Swiatek – 7,375 points
- 3- Coco Gauff – 6,063 points
- 4- Jessica Pegula – 5,361 points
- 5- Madison Keys – 5,004 points
- 6- Mirra Andreeva – 4,710 points
- 7- Jasmine Paolini – 4,518 points
- 8- Elena Rybakina – 4,448 points
- 9- Qinwen Zheng – 3,985 points
- 10- Emma Navarro – 3,859 points
