“I'm just going to play like this”: Mirra Andreeva refuses to switch nationality amid Russian exodus

Mirra Andreeva has confirmed she has no intention of changing nationality amid the wave of Russian players switching citizenship. The 18-year-old has had a strong start to the year, winning the Adelaide International and reaching the third round of the Australian Open.

The world No. 7 has been relentless in advancing, despite facing tough opponents. She came from a set down to win her debut match against former Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic (4-6, 6-3, 6-0), while in the second round she defeated former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari (6-0, 6-4) — delivering a bagel against both rivals.

“I feel like I gained some confidence, especially after Adelaide, winning the title there,” commented Andreeva in a press conference. “Going into Melbourne, playing a lot of matches, winning those matches. So yeah, I can say that that win obviously gave me some confidence, and I'm trying to keep the level of that mindset and of that confidence as well for as long as I can as I'm playing in Melbourne.”

Andreeva also highlighted the importance of former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez as her coach, who has been guiding her since 2024 and has been pivotal to her growth as a player. “I see that what we were working on is actually paying off in matches, and I use it. For example, I’m not afraid to use certain shots or tactics during matches because that’s what we’ve been working on,” Andreeva stated. “Before, when I was just starting on tour, she was one of my first coaches.

"Back then, at certain moments, I would panic, losing three games in a row, 12 points in a row, thinking, ‘Am I going to come back?’," the 2025 Indian Wells champion added. “Now she’s helped me with that, reminding me it’s okay if I drop a little because things can change quickly,” added Andreeva. “I think the work we’re putting in together is paying off. I see the results, so I can give a lot of credit to Conchita.”

One topic that has drawn attention recently is the nationality changes among Russian players — competing under different flags in international tournaments due to the war in Ukraine. Perhaps the most notable example is Daria Kasatkina, now competing as an Australian citizen and one of Andreeva’s closest friends on tour.

However, Andreeva has not considered making such a change. Anastasia Potapova — who reached the third round in Melbourne — chose Austrian citizenship, thinking about the possibility of competing in upcoming Olympic Games after becoming the No. 1 in her country.

The same has occurred with young Uzbek players: Kamila Rakhimova (No. 90), Polina Kudermetova (No. 150), and Maria Timofeeva (No. 138). These under-25 players have strengthened Uzbekistan’s team, which until recently had barely any representation in the rankings. Now they have a strong squad with three young players in the top 150 and serious ambitions to play a more prominent role on tour.

“Well, I didn’t even think about it. I heard and saw, like Dasha Kasatkina, she changed her citizenship,” commented the teenager. “A lot of players changed. But for now, I'm just going to play like this. I didn’t have any offers or anything. So for now, it's just going to be like this.”

When asked if playing without a flag added extra pressure on court, Andreeva replied, “No, for me, it doesn't add any pressure. I'm just doing my thing on the court. I focus on how to get better, how to improve as a tennis player. So it doesn’t add any pressure,” concluding the former world No. 5.

In her next challenge, Andreeva will face Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the second time. The 28-year-old defeated Dayana Yastremska (26th) and Ajla Tomljanovic on the way and will look to reach the second week in Melbourne.