“Maybe smash a ball... but hopefully not into a person”: Mirra Andreeva jokes about her court-side reset

Thursday, 08 October 2026 at 21:00

Mirra Andreeva joked about the way she manages frustration on court after reaching the Beijing semifinals, offering a candid glimpse into the emotional side of competing at the highest level. The 19-year-old has already established herself among the WTA elite, and her latest run has added another milestone to her 2026 season.

Andreeva reached the last four in Beijing by beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6, 7-6, earning her first victory in three meetings with her compatriot. The result also lifted her to a new live career-high of world No. 4, while reaching the final would move her to No. 3.

She will face Nikola Bartunkova in the semifinals. The Czech has been one of the tournament's biggest stories after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the third round and Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal.

The run comes as Andreeva prepares for the final stretch of the season. She has qualified for the WTA Finals in singles for the first time, having previously competed at the year-end event in doubles in 2025. She will play the Wuhan Open next week before heading to the season finale in November.

Andreeva and Conchita find a way to reset

Managing her emotions has become part of the work between Andreeva and coach Conchita Martinez. The former Wimbledon champion continues to encourage her player to be more positive and kinder to herself, while also understanding that suppressing every emotion is not necessarily the best approach.

“Yeah, of course, she still tries to help me to be more positive and nicer to myself. But she knows, and I also feel like that sometimes I just need to let my emotions out. I don't know, scream, maybe smash a ball and hopefully not into the person. Maybe out of the court or into the sky.”

For Andreeva, the important part is what happens afterward. She does not want frustration to affect every point, but sees one brief emotional release as a way to move on and start again.

“And then afterwards, I feel like I let my emotions out and I can play again from a blank list, I guess.”

When the interviewer suggested “a clean slate,” Andreeva immediately agreed.

“Yeah, a clean slate. So it's just for me, it's important not to kind of do this every point that I lose, do it once and then, you know, play and be positive again.”

That balance is still a work in progress. Andreeva's standards have risen alongside her results, and she acknowledged that learning when to demand more from herself and when to step back is not always easy.

“For sure, if I'd be able to always have that balance, I think things would be a little easier for me, definitely. But, you know, I feel like I'm still learning how I function better on the court with what I do and how I should react to certain situations, certain points.”

Her quarterfinal against Alexandrova provided a useful test of that process. “Today was also another very good match to learn from, that, you know, I stayed calm, even though I lost so many points and games in the second set," the 2026 Roland Garros champion added. "And, you know, and then I end up winning the match. So I think also something to learn from.”

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No. 4 and WTA Finals now await

The result adds to an already significant 2026 for Andreeva. She won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, lifted trophies in Adelaide and Linz and reached the Madrid final before moving into the world's top four in Beijing.

She has now also secured her first WTA Finals singles appearance, having previously played at the season-ending event only in doubles with Diana Shnaider in 2025. Wuhan will be her next stop before the Finals in Indian Wells from November 8-15.

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For Andreeva, however, the ranking and results are only part of the bigger picture. She is still trying to understand exactly how she performs best when the pressure rises, something she believes will become increasingly important as she spends more time at the top of the game.

“I feel like today was also another very good match to learn from, that, you know, I stayed calm, even though I lost so many points and games in the second set. And, you know, and then I end up winning the match.”

With Bartunkova next, Andreeva will have another opportunity to put that approach into practice. Her rise is no longer the story — being established among the world's best is. Now, the challenge is learning how to stay there, one match and one clean slate at a time.

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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