“I’m happy that I’m the youngest”: Mirra Andreeva explains the unusual advantage of having an older tennis sister

Saturday, 29 August 2026 at 20:30

Mirra Andreeva arrives at the US Open as the No. 5 seed after an unexpected mixed-doubles run in New York and with a playful explanation of why being the younger sister has worked in her favor. The Roland Garros champion reached the semifinals alongside Andrey Rublev and said she “would definitely do this again,” while also admitting she is “happy that I’m the youngest” in her family.

Only a few months ago, Andreeva captured her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final to become the youngest women's singles champion in Paris since Monica Seles in 1992. The 19-year-old has since consolidated her position near the top of the WTA rankings and now arrives in New York as the tournament's fifth seed.

The US Open remains one of the few unfinished chapters in Andreeva's Grand Slam résumé. She reached the third round here last year, matching her best result at the tournament, but has yet to reach the second week in New York. After making the semifinals in mixed doubles during this year's tournament, she now turns her attention fully to singles.

The stakes are also significant beyond the tournament itself. Andreeva is firmly involved in the WTA Race after a season that has already delivered her first major title, leaving the door open to a late-season push toward the top of the rankings. A strong US Open could therefore improve her position both in New York and in the wider battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Mixed doubles gave Andreeva a different kind of US Open experience

Andreeva and Rublev reached the mixed-doubles semifinals before losing a deciding tiebreak to Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik despite holding two match points. The result could have left the young Russian dwelling on the missed chances, but her description of the experience focused on the freedom of competing without the same singles pressure.

“During the first match, Andrey told me, ‘Mira, let's just have fun and create a lot of great memories together.’ And I was like, okay, this is going to be our plan," Andreeva said at press conference. "And after that, I feel like we just decided to have fun. Obviously, we also wanted to win, but we just didn't want to be stressed. And after that, I felt like we were playing great.”

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That approach did not prevent disappointment when the semifinal slipped away, but it changed what Andreeva took from the tournament. She admitted that the missed match points still bothered her, yet the overall experience was positive enough for her to want another opportunity in the format.

“I'm still sad that I screwed up a little bit in the end of our last match when we had a couple of match points, but I don't know. I still had so much fun, and I would definitely do this again.”

The younger sister advantage

Andreeva also offered an unusually candid explanation of the benefits of growing up behind an accomplished older sister. She said her parents had already gained experience by the time she came through, while her sister helped her with school, tennis and the pressures that came with developing as a young player.

“I feel like it's not easy to be an older sister because you have to go through certain things first. You know, parents also are gaining experience with the first child as well. And I feel like I had more benefits because I'm younger. You know, parents obviously knew what to do.”

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The relationship was not built around constant competition. Andreeva explained that they deliberately avoided practising together too often because emotions could quickly spill over, while their parents encouraged them to remain supportive of one another. That dynamic has remained part of how she views her sister, who she still considers a role model.

“And we didn't practice a lot together because it would get messy, not, you know, between each other in our relationship, but it would just, I don't know, I would get mad, she would get sad that I'm mad, then I'm sad that she's sad..."

"You know, so it's like a lot of different emotions," the world No. 5 added. "So that's why we didn't really practice together a lot and we would always just support each other no matter what would happen.”

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Andreeva's New York campaign now moves back to the singles draw, where the objective is more conventional: improve on last year's third-round finish. But her time in mixed doubles has already given her a different experience of the tournament, while her family story provides another glimpse into the environment behind a player now positioned among the WTA's leading contenders.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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