US OPEN

September 9, 2026

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/M. Andreeva

2-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Tough match out there, obviously. You had the match in a win position a couple of times. Just looking back, what are some things you wish you could have done differently when you had that momentum and edge?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Maybe risk more, I guess. I think at that moment I kind of just wanted to play, you know, wanted to make a rally, a longer point. So I think that if I maybe would have gone for something more risky to see what would have happened, maybe that would be the only thing that I would change.

Q. You guys have had some good battles. What makes her so tough to face?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I think she's just more patient than me in a way that, you know, at some moments she makes less mistakes, and obviously she gets a lot of balls back, which I think after, I'm the one that's trying to rush and make more mistakes than her.

So I think something to also see and take to account for the next matches that I will play against her.

Q. Congratulations on a nice run. I know in Wimbledon when you exited there, you were really upset. But I wonder if this good run here maybe, I don't know, have you learned anything about what it's like kind of after winning a Grand Slam? Did this tournament here prove to you anything about yourself?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, maybe in a way that I finally was able to win more matches. I was more positive to myself.

But yeah, I mean, other than that, I don't know.

Q. Tough luck today. A lot of players talk about sort of being careful with their body language and what they're showing on the court. How aware are you of when things were getting away from you in the third set and you're throwing your racquet and getting upset with yourself, that you're sending, could be sending a message to the opponent that you're in trouble and not feeling the belief anymore?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, that's true. I mean, I think every emotion that you show after, your opponent is aware of something, but at that point, I felt like I was holding my emotions for too long, you know, not reacting on a lot of points in the first set. In the second set, as well, after having match points, losing the set.

But yeah, then at one point I just felt like, you know, I needed to let it out. When I let those emotions out, I don't really think if I show anything to my opponent. And at that point, you know, I didn't think about it either.

Q. Sorry for the outcome. Still a great run at this tournament. Are there moments from your performance at Flushing Meadows that you're proud of that you will take away with you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I mean, right now, I don't know. I don't know if I can say anything about that. Maybe in a couple of days, but now it's hard.

Q. Just curious what your level of stress was on the court. She seemed stressed initially and struggling with her serve. I'm curious how you felt between the...

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I felt like I was less nervous today. I just went into this match thinking to, you know, just go for my shots, do whatever I have to do.

I saw that she was nervous in the beginning, so I just tried to use it, you know, into my side. I tried to, you know, pressure her more, go for my shots more.

Yeah, and then after she started feeling better, at some point I started making more mistakes. Then, you know, that's how the game goes. After in the end, she was the winner, but today, I don't know, I didn't feel like I was more nervous than I am usually.

Q. She plays a lot of three-set matches -- I think almost half of her matches this year have been three sets -- and wins a lot. As it got to the second set and at the end of the second set, does that enter into your mind, like, I really need to close this out now?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: No, I didn't think about it. I tried to think less. I just tried to put my focus on every point that I have to play. So I know that she wins, now as you told me, yes, she wins a lot of three-set matches.

When I was playing, I didn't think that I have to close it out; Oh, my God, what will happen if I'm not.

I was just playing point by point.