"Lately, I’ve caught the feeling of how much I enjoy playing": Mirra Andreeva gaining love for tennis back after recent success
WTA
Mirra Andreeva described her three set victory over Iga Swiatek as an important step forward, highlighting both her fighting spirit and growing enjoyment of the game after reaching the semi-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
The teenager recovered from losing the opening set to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Iga Swiatek, continuing a trend of comeback performances that have become a feature of her recent form in Stuttgart.
“Yeah, thank you. I think it was a really good match since the beginning. I’m very happy with the win today. Obviously, I can say so many things about what should have been better, but I’m just going to take the win. I think the match was great and it was important for me to win today.”
A decisive moment came early in the third set when Andreeva found herself trailing 2-0 before reeling off five consecutive games to take control of the match. Reflecting on that turnaround, she pointed to her belief and previous experiences of similar situations.
“I just told myself that I was 2-0 up in almost every match that I’ve played here, and then I lost the lead. So I was like, well, she’s 2-0 up, but it doesn’t really say anything because I’ve experienced that lead slip away.”
“I just kept on fighting, kept on believing that I still could win at least one game in the third set, and then I won another one, and then I just kept trying to do the same things.”
Despite her young age, Andreeva has repeatedly shown the ability to recover after losing the first set, something often associated with more experienced players. She credits a shift in mindset and a deeper enjoyment of competition.
“I don’t know. I just keep playing. I just try to still do my best. Lately, I’ve caught the feeling of how much I enjoy playing. I like to feel the ball on my racket, I like to get that adrenaline, I like to feel nervous a little bit, I like to get tired, I would never say that, but here it is.”
“I guess I just reached the moment where I want to play and see what’s going to happen on the court. Obviously, sometimes when things are not working my way, I can get a little emotional or a little mad, but I’ve learned that the calmer I stay on the court, the better I play.”
Not being able to control the game and coach exchange
She also emphasised her focus on controllable factors rather than the result itself.
“I feel like I still cannot control the outcome of the match. I can only control how I play and what I do on the court, and I just try to focus on that.”
There was also a brief exchange with her coach between the second and third sets, something Andreeva explained came naturally rather than being pre-planned.
“We had eye contact throughout the whole set break, and then I decided to go there. Conchita was looking at me and I was like, do we have anything to say or not, or should I just go and do some serves? Then she started giving me advice, so it was kind of both of us wanting to talk.”
Andreeva also produced moments of improvisation during the match, including a delicate forehand drop shot executed while sliding on clay, a shot she admitted is instinctive rather than rehearsed.
“I never practise those kinds of shots. I don’t know, the thought just comes to my mind that it would be good to do that, and I just do it. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but today I felt like I chose the right moment and I was very pleased with how it went.”
“I even got a little bit of goosebumps because I liked the outcome of that shot. It’s hard to practise those shots because you don’t really get those situations in practice like you do in matches.”
Looking ahead, Andreeva will face Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals, and she acknowledged the challenge posed by both potential opponents she could have faced.
“Last time I played Rybakina was in Indian Wells. She has a great serve, she likes to be offensive and go for her shots, and she’s also won this tournament, so she knows how to play on this surface.”
“She’s very tricky. Both of them are, with a little bit different game styles. We’ll just see who wins and prepare as best as we can with Conchita.”
With another comeback victory under her belt and confidence growing, Andreeva continues to build momentum as she heads into the final stages in Stuttgart.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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