"I just try to focus on my game": Mirra Andreeva opens up about facing Elina Svitolina amidst tensions between Russia and Ukraine

Russia’s Mirra Andreeva has opened up about facing Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at the Indian Wells. The 17-year-old is regarded as the one for the future in women’s tennis in the singles category and has already produced some impressive performances on the court.

Andreeva is currently taking part at the Indian Wells, where she booked her spot in the quarterfinal after beating one-time Grand Slam winner Elena Rybakina in straight sets with a score of 6-1 and 6-2. She is now set to face Svitolina in the last-eight clash, who cemented her spot in the quarterfinals after beating the 2024 US Open runner-up America’s Jessica Pegula with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

The contest is going to be interesting, largely because of Svitolina’s stance on facing Russian players. The 30-year-old has openly advocated for the ban of players from Russia in response to the war between both countries, which has been going on since 20223. Hundreds have lost their lives on both sides in the armed conflict, which is nearing three years of completion. Andreeva has been recently quoted in a report where she talked about facing Svitolina in the quarterfinal of the mega-event. She also stated that her primary objective will be to focus on her routine to ensure that she will be able to produce a positive result.

"Yeah, of course it's not easy,” she said. “But, you know, I have played maybe, I don't know, four or five matches against Ukrainian players. And me, I just try not to think about it. I just try to focus on my game, to do my routines, to prepare myself that it's not going to be easy. Yeah, I'm just going to try to prepare for this match as for every other match, and nothing's going to change for me. So yeah, I'm just going to do my routines and stick to what I have been doing a week before.”