In Linz, Andreeva was playing for the first time in her career. And, had the past few weeks of tennis gone more successfully for the 18-year-old Russian, we would hardly have seen her in Austria at all. But a third round in Indian Wells and a fourth round in Miami were not what Mirra and her team had been counting on. So it was a case of a blessing in disguise… helped along by the organisers, who handed her a wild card into the tournament held in Austria’s third-largest city. Linz once entered history for another reason too: Adolf Hitler spent his childhood and youth here, and considered it his hometown.
For the first time since its founding in 1987, this WTA 500 event was played on indoor clay; previously, it had been held on hard courts. Mirra went on to reach the sixth final of her career here, and her second of the current season, after the title in Adelaide. Andreeva’s opponents were not the most formidable, but they were hardly pushovers either: 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, the experienced Elena-Gabriela Ruse, and Sorana Cirstea, who is playing the final season of her career. It was the three-set match against the 36-year-old Romanian that frayed the nerves and became a real test for the Russian. Interestingly, the last time a top-10 player fought for the trophy in this Austrian city was exactly 10 years ago. Back then, the champion was Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, then ranked No. 10.
Victory in the final over her former compatriot Anastasia Potapova, ranked No. 97, brought Mirra her fifth title overall and her second on clay, while also lifting the Russian to No. 9 in the world rankings. At WTA 500 level, it was her second triumph, the first having come in Adelaide. This season, the Russian is now 9–0 against players outside the top 50, and 18–6 overall. Interestingly, top seeds have won the last five WTA tournaments: First&Red ambassador Aryna Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami, Jessica Pegula prevailed in Charleston, Marie Bouzkova won in Bogota, and Andreeva took the title in Linz.
Since last year’s titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, Mirra has been criticised more often than praised — especially in Russia. Some believe she is too emotional and too often loses control of herself in important moments. Others are convinced it all comes down to less-than-ideal physical conditioning. People point to problems with her serve and forehand, and to matches in which she seems to lose to herself. More and more often, there is talk that the partnership between Mirra and her coach, Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, has run its course. At the same time, the Russian understands and accepts that there are problems, and admits there are around ten things she wants to improve in her game. Those are exactly the things Mirra plans to discuss with Conchita.
Interestingly, the Spaniard was not in Linz, with Andreeva accompanied instead by her father and sparring partner Alexey Vatutin, who had also been part of her team in Adelaide. But a long and important clay-court swing lies ahead, so a week apart for coach and player may only do them good. Besides, Mirra and Martinez were still in regular contact.
Last year on clay, Andreeva reached the second round in Stuttgart and the quarter-finals in Madrid, Rome and at Roland Garros. Given the level of those last three tournaments, the Russian has plenty to defend. And that will be another test for a still very young player.
By the way, Mirra’s age is something many of her critics forget. Yes, tennis has had very early great champions: Boris Becker, Martina Hingis, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Carlos Alcaraz. But players like that are still more the exception than the rule. Besides, there is a fresh example right before our eyes: Coco Gauff, who burst through at Wimbledon at 15, but is still searching for stability in her game even today. The American is already 22 now, and she won her two Grand Slam titles at 19 and 21: the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open.
Experience, a certain inner calm, and belief in what you are doing are essential parts of tennis. That is exactly the period Mirra is living through now: searching, collecting all those elements, learning how to carry them. For a couple more weeks, she will still be only 18, so there is still time to do the homework. Even if it has to be done through trial and error of her own.
