In a poignant and dramatic clash at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, 17-year-old tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva secured a victory that carried a heavy emotional weight. Facing her older sister, Erika Andreeva, in the first round, Mirra advanced to the Round of 16 when Erika, struggling with a knee injury, was forced to retire trailing 6-2, 1-0. The match, which marked only their second professional encounter, unfolded as a heart-wrenching blend of sibling rivalry and familial bond, leaving Mirra grappling with mixed emotions as she reflected on her sister’s influence on her meteoric rise in the tennis world.
The Andreeva sisters’ matchup was one of the most anticipated first-round battles at the WTA 500 event, held on the indoor clay courts of Porsche-Arena. Mirra, the No. 6 seed and world No. 7, entered the tournament in scintillating form, having clinched back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells earlier in 2025. Her 20-4 win-loss record this season underscored her status as one of the WTA’s brightest young stars. Erika, ranked No. 97, earned her spot in the main draw as a lucky loser after Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk withdrew due to injury. Despite her lower ranking and a challenging 4-9 record this year, Erika had previously bested Mirra in their only prior professional meeting, a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory at the 2024 Wuhan Open.
The match began with promise, as Erika broke Mirra’s serve in the opening game, hinting at another potential upset. However, her physical struggles soon became apparent. With her right knee heavily strapped, Erika required a medical timeout at the first change of ends, signaling the severity of her condition. Mirra, sensing her sister’s discomfort, seized control, winning the first set 6-2 with precise ball placement and a dominant 94% first-serve point win rate. As the second set commenced, Erika’s mobility deteriorated further, and after Mirra took a 1-0 lead, Erika made the difficult decision to retire, sharing a tender embrace with her younger sister at the net.
In her on-court interview, Mirra’s emotions spilled over as she addressed the bittersweet nature of her victory. “Honestly, I have weird emotions. I should be a little bit happy that I won the match, but still I’m super sad it ended like this,” she said, her voice heavy with empathy. Sharing a room with Erika during the tournament, Mirra was acutely aware of her sister’s struggles. “We share the same room, so of course I knew what she’s been going through,” she added, underscoring their close bond. Despite the win, which leveled their head-to-head record at 1-1, Mirra’s thoughts were with Erika’s recovery. “I’m sure she’s going to take her time and recover, and she’s going to come back as strong as she can
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