At just 17, Mirra Andreeva has already carved a name for herself as one of tennis’s brightest stars, with a career-high world No. 6 ranking and two WTA 1000 titles in 2025. Her opening match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart was meant to be a celebration of her meteoric rise, but it left her grappling with mixed emotions. Facing her older sister, Erika Andreeva, in a rare sibling showdown, Mirra secured a victory when Erika retired due to a knee injury, trailing 6-2, 1-0. “Honestly, I have weird emotions,” Mirra said courtside. “I should be a little bit happy that I won the match, but still I’m super sad it ended like that.” Her poignant words and heartfelt tribute to her sister reveal a young champion balancing professional ambition with familial bonds.
The Stuttgart clash was only the second professional meeting between the Andreeva sisters, following Erika’s dominant 6-3, 6-1 win in Wuhan in 2024. Mirra, the No. 5 seed, entered as the favorite, fresh off victories in Dubai and Indian Wells, where she became the youngest player since 2009 to win a WTA 1000 title. Erika, ranked No. 97 and a lucky loser after Marta Kostyuk’s withdrawal, started strong, breaking Mirra’s serve in the opening game. But the momentum shifted as Erika’s right knee, heavily strapped after a medical timeout, hindered her movement. “We share the same room, so of course I knew what she’s been going through,” Mirra revealed, underscoring their close bond. After 40 minutes, Erika’s pain forced her to retire, handing Mirra a bittersweet advancement to the round of 16.
Mirra’s post-match reflections were steeped in gratitude for her sister’s influence. “She showed me the way,” she said, crediting Erika for inspiring her rapid ascent. Growing up, Erika, nearly three years older, was the trailblazer, dominating their childhood practice sets 6-1 or 6-2. “If she wouldn’t have started playing tennis before me, I don’t think I would play that well this fast,” Mirra added. Their journey from Sochi to Cannes, where they trained at the Elite Tennis Center, was shaped by their mother Raissa’s passion for tennis, sparked by Marat Safin’s 2005 Australian Open win. Erika’s early success paved the way for Mirra, who at 15 stunned the 2023 Madrid Open by reaching the fourth round, defeating top-20 players like Leylah Fernandez and Magda Linette.
The Stuttgart match, played on the indoor clay of the Porsche Arena, carried extra stakes—a sleek Porsche Macan Turbo awaits the champion. Mirra, who doesn’t yet have a driver’s license, admitted to eyeing the cars displayed courtside. “The view on the center court is super nice. I already thought about which cars I would like to get,” she smiled before the tournament, adding, “But we’re not there yet. I’m just looking around.” Her playful ambition contrasts with the emotional weight of facing Erika, a dynamic she approached with professionalism. “We’re going to take it professionally because we don’t have any other choice,” she said pre-match, anticipating a “great and entertaining” battle that was cut short.
Mirra’s 2025 season has been a masterclass in precocity. Her Roland Garros semifinal in 2024, where she upset world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, made her the youngest major semifinalist since Martina Hingis in 1997. She followed with an Olympic doubles silver alongside Diana Shnaider and back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, defeating Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Sabalenka. Yet, her Stuttgart victory was overshadowed by concern for Erika. “I’m sure she’s gonna take her time and recover, and she’s gonna come back as strong as she can,” Mirra said, her optimism tempered by empathy.
Under coach Conchita Martínez, a 1994 Wimbledon champion, Mirra has honed her cerebral, all-court game, blending defensive prowess with precise shot-making. Martínez’s guidance has instilled professionalism, evident in Mirra’s warm-ups and routines, lessons she credits to her 2024 Roland Garros run. In Stuttgart, she marked Martínez’s birthday with a courtside rendition of “Happy Birthday,” calling her “Concepción” to the crowd’s delight. “It’s my coach’s birthday, and I want to embarrass her a little bit,” she grinned, showing her youthful charm.
As Mirra advances to face Ekaterina Alexandrova, her focus shifts to capturing a third 2025 title. Her 70-25 win-loss record since 2023 and victories over four top-10 players in 2024 signal her readiness. Yet, the Stuttgart opener was a reminder of the personal stakes in her ascent. For Mirra, tennis is a family affair, and her sister’s influence remains a guiding light, even in victory’s shadow.