At just 18 years old, Mirra Andreeva has emerged as one of tennis’s brightest young stars, her meteoric rise marked by fearless play and a string of high-profile victories. Yet, despite her confidence and recent successes, the Russian teenager has candidly shared the daunting emotions she experiences when squaring off against Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and a formidable force in women’s tennis. Andreeva’s admission that facing Gauff feels “not nice” offers a glimpse into the psychological intensity of their budding rivalry, one that has captivated fans and hinted at the future of the sport.
Andreeva’s reflections come as she prepares for the 2025 season, following a whirlwind year that saw her break into the WTA’s top 10 and claim back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. Her victories over top players like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka have cemented her status as a prodigy with the potential to dominate. However, her encounters with Gauff, who holds a perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against her, have been uniquely challenging. “It’s not nice,” Andreeva confessed, describing the sensation of stepping onto the court against the American. “She makes you work for every point, and you feel like you have to be perfect, or she’ll take advantage.”
Their rivalry began in 2023 at Roland Garros, where a 16-year-old Andreeva faced Gauff in the third round. Despite taking the first set in a thrilling tiebreak, Andreeva fell 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1 as Gauff’s experience and relentless defense turned the tide. Later that year at the US Open, Gauff overpowered her 6-3, 6-2 in front of a roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, a performance Andreeva admitted left her feeling outmatched. “I learned to be aggressive,” Gauff said after that match, noting how she forced Andreeva to play riskier shots. “She’s the type of player that if you give her something, she’s going to take advantage.”
The 2025 season brought two more clashes on clay, first in Madrid and then in Rome, where Gauff continued her dominance with straight-set victories. In Madrid, Gauff won 7-5, 6-1, showcasing improved serve and forehand play that left Andreeva struggling to find openings. In Rome, a tighter 6-4, 7-6(5) battle saw Andreeva push Gauff to a tiebreak in the second set, but her frustration was palpable as she hurled her racket after a missed shot. “I think she tried to be more aggressive today,” Gauff observed, acknowledging Andreeva’s evolving tactics. “When you play someone so soon, it’s difficult because you know they’re not going to play you the same as last time.”
Andreeva’s discomfort stems from Gauff’s unique playing style, which blends elite athleticism with suffocating defense. Unlike power hitters like Sabalenka, whom Andreeva has toppled with her precise groundstrokes and clever drop shots, Gauff forces her to generate her own pace, often pushing her to the brink in long rallies. “At the end, my defense, it was tough,” Gauff said after their Rome encounter, highlighting how her ability to retrieve seemingly impossible shots frustrates opponents. For Andreeva, this dynamic requires an uncomfortable shift to a more aggressive approach, a style that doesn’t always align with her natural game. Her coach, Conchita Martinez, has been instrumental in helping her manage these moments, urging her to channel frustration into focus. “You have to play!” Martinez shouted during the Rome match, sparking a late surge from Andreeva that nearly forced a third set.
Despite the losses, Andreeva sees these matches as opportunities for growth. “I feel the progress, I feel the difference,” she said, expressing a desire for a rematch to test her improvements. Her rapid ascent—highlighted by a 2024 Roland Garros semifinal and a Paris Olympic doubles silver medal—mirrors Gauff’s own trajectory as a teenage phenom. Gauff, who burst onto the scene at 15 by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, has been a mentor of sorts, offering encouragement after their matches. “Mirra has a great future ahead of her,” Gauff said after their 2023 US Open clash. “When I was younger, I used to think that every match was life or death… The losses, as long as you learn from them, they’re OK.”
Andreeva’s admiration for Gauff is evident, recalling their first meeting at Roland Garros in 2023 when Gauff approached her to offer congratulations. “She’s so nice,” Andreeva said, marveling at Gauff’s warmth off the court. Yet, on the court, that warmth gives way to a fierce competitiveness that leaves Andreeva feeling uneasy. As she continues to refine her game, working with a psychologist to manage pressure and anger, Andreeva is determined to close the gap. “That would be exciting,” she said of a potential rematch, eager to see how her improvements stack up against Gauff’s mastery.
As the 2025 French Open looms, Andreeva’s words underscore the mental and tactical challenges of facing a player like Gauff, whose blend of speed, strategy, and resilience makes every point a battle. For Andreeva, overcoming that “not nice” feeling could be the key to unlocking her full potential and turning their rivalry into a true contest for the ages.
# Mirra Andreeva Opens Up About the Uneasy Feeling of Facing Coco Gauff on the Court
At just 18 years old, Mirra Andreeva has emerged as one of tennis’s brightest young stars, her meteoric rise marked by fearless play and a string of high-profile victories. Yet, despite her confidence and recent successes, the Russian teenager has candidly shared the daunting emotions she experiences when squaring off against Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and a formidable force in women’s tennis. Andreeva’s admission that facing Gauff feels “not nice” offers a glimpse into the psychological intensity of their budding rivalry, one that has captivated fans and hinted at the future of the sport.
Andreeva’s reflections come as she prepares for the 2025 season, following a whirlwind year that saw her break into the WTA’s top 10 and claim back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. Her victories over top players like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka have cemented her status as a prodigy with the potential to dominate. However, her encounters with Gauff, who holds a perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against her, have been uniquely challenging. “It’s not nice,” Andreeva confessed, describing the sensation of stepping onto the court against the American. “She makes you work for every point, and you feel like you have to be perfect, or she’ll take advantage.”
Their rivalry began in 2023 at Roland Garros, where a 16-year-old Andreeva faced Gauff in the third round. Despite taking the first set in a thrilling tiebreak, Andreeva fell 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1 as Gauff’s experience and relentless defense turned the tide. Later that year at the US Open, Gauff overpowered her 6-3, 6-2 in front of a roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, a performance Andreeva admitted left her feeling outmatched. “I learned to be aggressive,” Gauff said after that match, noting how she forced Andreeva to play riskier shots. “She’s the type of player that if you give her something, she’s going to take advantage.”
The 2025 season brought two more clashes on clay, first in Madrid and then in Rome, where Gauff continued her dominance with straight-set victories. In Madrid, Gauff won 7-5, 6-1, showcasing improved serve and forehand play that left Andreeva struggling to find openings. In Rome, a tighter 6-4, 7-6(5) battle saw Andreeva push Gauff to a tiebreak in the second set, but her frustration was palpable as she hurled her racket after a missed shot. “I think she tried to be more aggressive today,” Gauff observed, acknowledging Andreeva’s evolving tactics. “When you play someone so soon, it’s difficult because you know they’re not going to play you the same as last time.”
Andreeva’s discomfort stems from Gauff’s unique playing style, which blends elite athleticism with suffocating defense. Unlike power hitters like Sabalenka, whom Andreeva has toppled with her precise groundstrokes and clever drop shots, Gauff forces her to generate her own pace, often pushing her to the brink in long rallies. “At the end, my defense, it was tough,” Gauff said after their Rome encounter, highlighting how her ability to retrieve seemingly impossible shots frustrates opponents. For Andreeva, this dynamic requires an uncomfortable shift to a more aggressive approach, a style that doesn’t always align with her natural game. Her coach, Conchita Martinez, has been instrumental in helping her manage these moments, urging her to channel frustration into focus. “You have to play!” Martinez shouted during the Rome match, sparking a late surge from Andreeva that nearly forced a third set.
Despite the losses, Andreeva sees these matches as opportunities for growth. “I feel the progress, I feel the difference,” she said, expressing a desire for a rematch to test her improvements. Her rapid ascent—highlighted by a 2024 Roland Garros semifinal and a Paris Olympic doubles silver medal—mirrors Gauff’s own trajectory as a teenage phenom. Gauff, who burst onto the scene at 15 by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, has been a mentor of sorts, offering encouragement after their matches. “Mirra has a great future ahead of her,” Gauff said after their 2023 US Open clash. “When I was younger, I used to think that every match was life or death… The losses, as long as you learn from them, they’re OK.”
Andreeva’s admiration for Gauff is evident, recalling their first meeting at Roland Garros in 2023 when Gauff approached her to offer congratulations. “She’s so nice,” Andreeva said, marveling at Gauff’s warmth off the court. Yet, on the court, that warmth gives way to a fierce competitiveness that leaves Andreeva feeling uneasy. As she continues to refine her game, working with a psychologist to manage pressure and anger, Andreeva is determined to close the gap. “That would be exciting,” she said of a potential rematch, eager to see how her improvements stack up against Gauff’s mastery.
As the 2025 French Open looms, Andreeva’s words underscore the mental and tactical challenges of facing a player like Gauff, whose blend of speed, strategy, and resilience makes every point a battle. For Andreeva, overcoming that “not nice” feeling could be the key to unlocking her full potential and turning their rivalry into a true contest for the ages.
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