"It's OK that sometimes something doesn't work or go your way" - New year, new Andreeva as talented teenager enters 2026 with fresh mindset

Mirra Andreeva is coming off an underwhelming end to the 2025 season with a fresh new mindset as she looks to once more challenge the best players in the world for the biggest titles over the 2026 campaign.

At this moment in time, she is playing in the Adelaide International. It is her first time playing in the event, and she got off to the perfect start in a 6-3, 6-1 first round win against lucky loser Marie Bouzkova. After a sluggish start, Andreeva took command and won 11 of the last 13 games on offer to race into the next round.

It was a huge boost to the Russian to win in such dominant fashion. "Those wins gave me a lot of confidence to go through the season," she said after the match. "But at the same time I felt like I was putting pressure on myself. I was expecting myself to play at the same level throughout the whole year, which I now understand was not really possible."

After starting 2025 so bright, highlighted by winning a brace of WTA 1000 titles and reaching a brace of Grand Slam quarter-finals, the Russian's form slowly fell away throughout the season. It culminated in an average Asian swing which saw her miss out on qualification for a debut campaign in the WTA Finals by the skin of her teeth, which left a sour taste in her mouth.

"We're human, so it's OK that sometimes something doesn't work or go your way," she wisely stated. "Last year it was all new to me, so I was still learning how to accept that and move on from that. But it was a very good experience for me to go through that - to win, but also not to have any titles after that. It was a good learning experience."

During the off season, Andreeva had a chance to sit down and discuss some topics with her psychologist. One of these discussions centred around pressure, and how to deal with it better along with trying to take her game to the next level. While it is not an overnight process, she is looking to take steps in the right direction.

She also had these conversations with former WTA Coach of the Year Conchita Martinez. "I'm just going to take it day by day, and just practice and improve," she said. "Do whatever I can to be a better player and a better person. I like the work that we put in with Conchita - trying to maintain my level by being aggressive, going for my shots, not being afraid to miss."

She will soon be defending the ranking points form the big titles she won around 10-11 months ago, as she looks to navigate through what could be a tricky spell. "Being smart and making the right decisions," she acknowledged. "And tonight [against Bouzkova] I saw those bits of pieces that we were trying to work on, and that made me very happy. I'm so full of energy right now. This match gave me a lot of confidence."

Two tournaments, and two quarter-finals for the 18-year-old. She first made it to the last eight in the Brisbane International where she was defeated by an inform Marta Kostyuk. She will be hoping for a more positive result against either Maya Joint or Ajla Tomljanovic. Either way it will be a match where she is the second favourite, with the Aussie crowd set to passionately cheer on one of their home heroes.

For Andreeva, she will just focus on the task at hand. "I just have to keep believing in myself," Andreeva commented. "I just have to stick to that mindset, because I know when I do the right things on the court and off, it's just a matter of time until the right things start to happen. That's what Conchita tells me all the time, and I feel relieved when I hear those words. Conchita said it's going to happen sooner or later, and I choose to believe what she says."