PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 16, 2025

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/E. Andreeva

6-2, 1-0 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Mirra, we know that playing Erika is very difficult for both of you. What were your thoughts about the match today? And obviously it finished in an unfortunate way.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, before going into the match, of course we were both super nervous. Last time we played each other, it went her way, and I couldn't really handle the nerves.

I felt like this time I managed to do it better, but then of course I think that the match was not at the greatest level because obviously she didn't feel her best. So it's not the way we wanted to finish this match, but I'm sure that she's going to recover fast and we're going to see her on court soon.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You talked on court about how Erika's progress had helped you. Can you just tell us a bit more about that.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, obviously because she's older than me for a couple of years, she kind of was looking for the right way to start the tennis career, so maybe she played some tournaments that she didn't have to play, she spend some more time on things that maybe she could have let go faster.

So because of her, I was looking at her and I was learning. Also, my parents, they were learning with her. So for me, it was easier to start and play bigger tournaments, and because of that, I think that I developed a bit faster as a player, as well.

So for sure without her, I maybe would have needed a couple more years probably to play on a bigger level.

Q. We know that it's never easy for any of you to play against an injured opponent, but especially in this situation, as you know, that it was your sister on the other side. Were you able to be focused on yourself, or you were kind of struggling with the idea of checking at how she was feeling?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, of course it was a bit weird, because I don't think that you really understand what emotions I felt or what emotions she felt during the match.

When she called for a physio -- well, of course I knew that she was struggling with her knee, because we shared a room here. So she knows everything about me; I know everything about her. So of course I knew that she's been dealing with her knee.

When she called for a physio, of course I was a bit worried, but I also told myself that I have to be focused on what I do, because I cannot just lose my focus.

So, yeah, I was kind of fighting with myself. Either I worry or I, you know, stay focused and I just keep doing my thing. So it was a bit difficult, but yeah, I just hope that we're going to play more matches against each other and we both can learn on our experiences.

Q. I'm sure you played each other many times when you were children. I imagine she probably won most of the matches. Can you remember the first time when you beat her?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Today probably (smiling). Yeah, we played a couple of times on the practices when we were younger, and actually, until Wuhan last year, we never ever played an official match. So we were always playing a couple of games on the practices or a couple of tiebreaks.

But most of the time of course she has, like, I don't know, 90% win against me, and this is actually the first time I really won the set against her.

I just know that of course if she would feel her 100%, the score would be completely different and the match would be different, as well. But I'm sure that we have a lot of time to play and to show the great level of tennis.

Q. What do you think Erika can achieve in her career?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I'm saying not because I'm her sister, but also I watch her from the outside, and I think that maybe she needs a little bit more time. Maybe she's gonna do it sooner, but I'm sure that if she keeps believing in herself, she's gonna achieve great things.

I see her lifting big and important trophies, and I see her beating great and top players, so that's what I wish for her. I think that she's gonna do it soon enough.

Q. Right after the match, you went straight to Court 2, hitting some balls. I wonder if the call was made by you or by Conchita, or who made it?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: When I left the court, she told me that in 25 minutes I would have a practice, but she told me, like, of course if I wanted to.

I practiced not because I didn't play enough tennis but because I needed to loosen up a little bit because I was feeling super tight. Yeah, just we both felt that I needed to hit some balls to loosen up and to just relax a little bit.

So mainly it was her call, but she knew that I would agree. So there was no fight about it (smiling).

Q. Can I just ask you one more question about Wimbledon? I asked you the other day about grass and clay, and you said that you thought that grass was the more difficult surface to get used to. Last year at Wimbledon, you lost in the first round. Do you think that was because you had not played much on grass before Wimbledon last year?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I can say that last year I played three weeks on grass before Wimbledon, so I think that's pretty much enough. But yeah, the first match on Wimbledon of course I'm nervous. I also had to defend some points, and my opponent, she was also playing good. So just all those circumstances.

Yeah, it just happens. But I hope that this year I'm gonna do a little bit better, and we're going to talk with Conchita what is the best way to prepare myself better. So I think that we're gonna have some kind of a plan in our head closer to the tournament.

Q. Can I ask you one question about your sister again. Because you beat the World No. 1 and the World No. 2, why is your sister so much more of an opponent for you than either Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I think that there is maybe not everything about tennis but also, I think for me, like, 75%, 80% is about my mental preparation, because you're also not just focusing on yourself and you're not focusing on how to beat her, but you're also focusing, okay, does she feel good? I don't know. I wonder, how does she feel? What are we going to do after the match? How is it going to be? All those thoughts.

Me, I don't just focus on myself, but I also focus on kind of paying more attention to her. This makes the match for me more difficult. So, yeah, there is a lot of things that I can say, but mostly for me, like, to really just focus on myself, it's almost impossible when I play against her.