In the fast-paced world of professional tennis, where every match tests both body and spirit, the rise of 18-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva has been nothing short of meteoric. With a career-high WTA ranking of No. 5 and two WTA 1000 titles under her belt in 2025, Andreeva has captivated fans with her fearless play and tactical brilliance. However, a dark cloud now looms over her promising season. A left ankle injury sustained during the Canadian Open has forced her withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open, casting serious doubt on her participation in the upcoming US Open, set to begin on August 24, 2025. As the tennis world holds its breath, Andreeva’s race against time to recover could define her breakout year.
Andreeva’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in youthful dominance. The teenager, who trains at the Elite Tennis Center in Cannes under the guidance of 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, stormed to victory at the Indian Wells and Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating heavyweights like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. Her 19-3 win-loss record and 9-5 mark against top-10 players underscore her status as a future Grand Slam contender. At Wimbledon, she reached the quarterfinals, pushing Swiatek to a thrilling three-set battle and cementing her reputation as the youngest WTA top-5 player since Maria Sharapova. “A little bit more focused, less mistakes and more aggressive,” Andreeva said after her Wimbledon loss, outlining her goals to refine her game. “The next practice I have, I’m going to try to focus on practicing on being aggressive, trying to step into the court when I play points, maybe play even more volleys.”
Her aggressive mindset was on display at the Canadian Open in Montreal, where she received a walkover from an injured Bianca Andreescu in the first round. However, her third-round clash with American McCartney Kessler proved costly. In a tightly contested match, Andreeva fell 7-6(5), 6-4, after struggling with a bandaged left ankle. The injury, which visibly hampered her movement, occurred during a grueling 1-hour-45-minute battle where she twice failed to serve out the first set and squandered a mini-break in the tiebreaker. Kessler, seizing her second top-10 win of the season, capitalized on Andreeva’s discomfort, breaking her serve four times in the second set. The loss marked Andreeva’s first completed match since her Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat to Belinda Bencic, a 6-7, 6-7 heartbreaker that left her determined to return stronger.
Now, the ankle injury has thrown her US Open preparations into disarray. The Cincinnati Open, a critical WTA 1000 event and a traditional tune-up for Flushing Meadows, was meant to be a proving ground for Andreeva, who reached the quarterfinals there in 2024, defeating Karolina Pliskova, Jasmine Paolini, and Emma Navarro before falling to Swiatek. Her withdrawal, confirmed just days before the tournament’s start on August 7, 2025, means she’ll lose 200 ranking points and face a tight recovery timeline. “It’s a hard day, but I can take a lot of positives from these two weeks, for sure,” she had said after Wimbledon, a sentiment that now feels distant as she battles to be fit for New York.
Andreeva’s potential absence from the US Open, where she reached the second round in 2024, would be a blow to the tournament’s star power. She was also slated to compete in the controversial mixed doubles event alongside compatriot Daniil Medvedev, a format criticized by some players but designed to spotlight top talent. Her injury adds to a growing list of withdrawals, with Novak Djokovic, Ons Jabeur, and others already sidelined, raising concerns about the depth of the 2025 field. For Andreeva, the stakes are personal as well as professional. The teenager, who balances high school studies with her burgeoning career, has spoken openly about her love for tennis and her ambition to emulate idols like Sharapova. Her backhand, described as “venomous” by pundits, and her defensive prowess have drawn comparisons to Coco Gauff, whom she faced in the 2024 French Open semifinals.
As Andreeva rehabs her ankle, the tennis community is rallying behind her. “I don’t think she’s ‘promising’ anymore,” said Clara Tauson, whom Andreeva defeated in the Dubai final. “I think she’s already at the top of our game.” Her peers, including Daria Kasatkina, who has mentored her, marvel at her rapid rise. “The potential was always there, so it was just a matter of time when she was going to skyrocket,” Kasatkina noted. Yet, the physical toll of the WTA tour, compounded by the extended 12-day format of the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens, has sparked debate. Andreeva’s injury, alongside Andreescu’s similar ankle issue, highlights the grueling demands on young players navigating back-to-back high-stakes events.
With the US Open less than three weeks away, Andreeva’s team is working tirelessly to ensure her recovery. Her history of resilience—overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the second set against Kessler and powering through windy conditions to beat Sabalenka at Indian Wells—suggests she won’t go down without a fight. Whether she takes the court in Flushing Meadows or watches from the sidelines, Andreeva’s journey remains one of the most compelling in tennis. For now, fans can only hope the young star’s ankle heals in time to continue her ascent on the sport’s biggest stage.
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