CHINA OPEN

October 8, 2026

Mirra Andreeva

Mixed Zone

M. ANDREEVA/E. Alexandrova

7-6, 7-6

Q. Talk about how you felt staying composed down the final stretch in the second set tiebreak.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, I felt like she kind of had the same situation in the first set. She was up, serving for the set. I was able to come back and win the set.

Then in the second set, I feel like I was the one kind of leading the game, dominating. At one point I felt like she started playing better. Okay, maybe I did a couple of mistakes here and there. I just felt like the game was slipping away from me slowly. She was coming back.

You know that feeling of I really don't want that to happen. I really want to close it out, but I can't. It just keeps going away from me further and further.

Yeah, I'm just happy that I was able to stay calm, even when she was the one serving for the set again in the second set. I was able to try and be more aggressive, to go for my shots, my returns. Very happy to win the match with two tiebreaks.

Q. What do you tell yourself these days when you're trying to fight off some of those negative thoughts, trying to stay in a positive place? What are the mental keys for you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, today I really felt the difference before when I was playing my clay court swing. I also felt the same today where I just felt like in order to play well, to be positive, I just needed to have my time, not to rush. Even though at some points I did, I just felt like it wasn't really bringing anything good to me.

I guess I also can learn a little bit from today that in order to stay positive, because that's where I play my best, I need to take some time, not to rush, kind of breathe, do some stuff slowly, then I feel like that's what's helping me.

Q. This time last year you were in a pretty good spot to qualify for WTA Finals. It didn't work out. This year is looking a lot more optimistic for you. What would that mean to you to be in the final eight in Indian Wells?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, of course that would mean a lot to me. As you mentioned, last year I was very, very close. Elena -- let's not talk about her (smiling) -- she played unbelievable. She earned that spot last year. Nothing I can say.

This year I'm just happy that I have better odds. I'm playing better. I keep earning more and more points. That's looking good. I'm just very happy that I have more chances to qualify with every match that I play.

Q. This is your first semifinal after you were at Roland Garros. How important is it to get back to this stage of a tournament?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, of course for me, I would say every win that I have is very important. Every match that I play and that I get to win in the end is super nice. It feels, I don't know, brings a lot of more positivity and confidence to my game.

Of course, going into a semifinals here in Beijing also feels very special 'cause it's the end of the year. Last year, last tournaments that I played, Beijing, Wuhan and the rest, let's just not even go back there because I feel like that was something (smiling).

Very happy that this year is different and I was able to turn things around.

Q. You came to China a couple times. You've learned some Chinese words. You share your favorite dishes. Is there another aspect of Chinese culture that you would like to explore more?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: For sure I would like to go to Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, go a little bit more into the center. Now we're staying at a part of the city where basically I spend my time in the hotel because I feel like the center is pretty far away, I don't want to go there, but I really want to explore. It's difficult.

I would really just like to explore a little bit more of Chinese culture one day.

Q. Next on deck is Nikola Bartunkova. She's had this great run in Beijing. Your thoughts on playing her?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, of course she beat a lot of great players on her way to the semifinal. For sure this match will be tough. Even though I won in US Open, I still felt like the match was tough. A lot of also up and downs.

I think this match is going to be very entertaining for people to watch. She's an amazing player. I'm super excited to play her again. She's also very young. Kind of a battle of I don't want to say like the new generation, but young players, teenagers. Very exciting for that match to happen.

Q. You're the leader of that group, based off ranking, accomplishment. Can you accept that?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, I will accept that. Why not (smiling)?

Q. How important is it for you to be able to remain that alpha, to get these wins over the younger players?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I actually didn't think about it that way. I feel like I try to approach every match not thinking of, I don't know, the age of my opponent or the name or whatever, like those different aspects. I just try to play against a certain game style that I have to play against on the court.

I feel like approaching matches like this is just easier for me mentally, not to think about other things. I think that if you go inside of a tennis player's head during the match, that's going to be tough because we think about a lot of stuff. Me personally, so...

Yeah, I just try not to think about it, I guess. After we'll see what's going to happen. I don't know.

Q. On the concept of teams in tennis, Conchita, your mom, agents, can you talk about how important that invisible aspect of a tennis player's life is, kind of having not just a team that you get along with but also has to do all the stuff to make sure you are prepared for your matches, hotels, flights...

MIRRA ANDREEVA: For sure. In the beginning I was doing that all by myself. It was not super hard. Of course, it took some energy from you. Now I have a lot of people that help me.

Conchita does a lot of stuff. My hitting partner helps me a lot with, I don't know, a lot of things: booking the court, taking the racquets, bringing them to the stringer. My mom, my dad also here, they keep me good company. It's always nicer to spend time with your family rather than alone. Conchita, of course she does a lot of stuff. My agent helps me a lot.

I think having a good team around you that just does everything to help you, not just on the court but off the court as well, is super important. It just helps you to kind of receive your energy when you're playing tournaments, Grand Slams.

I don't know. For me, I think that would be one of most important things that I would say.