Mirra Andreeva has already enjoyed huge success in her brief career so far, having just won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles.
Andreeva was chasing the Sunshine Double after triumphing at Indian Wells, having previously won the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 17-year-old beat Clara Tauson and Aryna Sabalenka in those respective finals, but Andreeva suffered a third round exit at the Miami Open.
Sabalenka has predicted huge success for Andreeva, who has risen to number seven in the WTA rankings thanks to her recent run.
The Russian teenager did manage to leave her most recent event with silverware, having won the Miami Open women’s doubles title.
Andrea Petkovic praises ‘insane’ Mirra Andreeva success
Andreeva clinched the trophy alongside Diana Shnaider, with former professional Andrea Petkovic now sharing her take on the 17-year-old’s recent success.
“I talked to Conchita Martinez in Miami and asked her what they were doing,” Petkovic said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“She said it has been quite tough. She had four days at home after Dubai and then they travelled to California to get acclimatised with the time difference, it’s really an incredible effort.
“For these young players it’s not the physical strength that takes them down, it’s the emotional strength. She could sleep eight hours and feel like a rabbit the next morning.
“But it’s the emotional strain of having these two huge wins in her career. Backing up a WTA 1000 win is insane. It’s not insane because she’s obviously a generational talent.
“It’s not insane for her because I think she just underlined and emphasised that she is a generational talent but for a normal, who used to be good, this is an insane achievement as she is so young.
“Even Carlos Alcaraz, when he had his first big win at the US Open, he struggled for a few months after that and he’s Carlos Alcaraz. So that really is an astonishing accomplishment from her.”
Mirra Andreeva emulating Carlos Alcaraz early career success
Alcaraz did, of course, win a more significant tournament than Andreeva with his Grand Slam success, but their situations are certainly similar given their age.
The Spaniard was just 19 when he beat Casper Ruud in 2022, with three more Grand Slam titles going his way since then.
He has also managed to rise to the summit of the ATP rankings, although Jannik Sinner currently occupies that spot.
Andreeva meanwhile reached number six in the WTA rankings last month, and is achieving astonishing feats under coach Martinez.
Keeping her feet on the ground is perhaps the priority going forward, but there simply is no telling just how far the teenager can go.
Set to turn just 18 later this month, Andreeva is already a three-time WTA Tour champion, and has a Grand Slam semi-final finish to her name from the 2024 French Open.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
