“Mentally, I needed the break”: Andreeva explains dominant return against former world No. 1
WTAThursday, 06 August 2026 at 08:30
Mirra Andreeva arrived at the Canadian Open with something to prove after a disappointing Wimbledon exit, but the Russian wasted no time making a statement. The world No. 5 delivered a commanding performance in her first hard-court match of the North American swing, defeating former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 to reach the third round in Montreal.
The victory marked Andreeva’s first appearance on hard courts since Wimbledon, where she suffered a surprise second-round defeat that ended expectations of a deep run at the All England Club. Against Pliskova, however, the 19-year-old looked fully refreshed after taking a necessary break from the sport following her grass-court campaign.
“I think that time off was very much needed. I just wanted to switch off from tennis completely and just have some time off,” Andreeva explained after the match. “I didn't play tennis for almost two weeks. That was just nice mentally to forget about everything.”
The break appears to have worked. Andreeva entered Montreal with one of the strongest seasons on the WTA Tour, holding a 37-11 record in 2026 and already collecting three titles. Although she currently sits at No. 5 in the WTA rankings, she leads the Race to the WTA Finals, meaning she has accumulated more points than any other player this season.
Andreeva embraces Fernandez challenge as US Open preparation begins
Andreeva also admitted that the time away from competition helped her regain motivation after a demanding first half of the season. After two weeks without touching a racquet, the teenager said she was eager to return to tournament action.
“I was actually very excited to start playing because I was kind of tired of practicing already,” she said. “So, yeah, I was super excited to start the tournament here.”
The Russian could now face a completely different challenge in the next round, with home favourite Leylah Fernandez waiting after defeating Renata Zarazua. Andreeva knows the atmosphere will be a major factor if she faces the Canadian, who reached the Madrid meeting between the pair earlier this season.
“If I play Leylah, for sure it's going to be tough,” Andreeva said. “Starting with the fact that she's playing at home, so obviously the crowd is going to support her. And at the same time, she's an amazing player.”
The potential matchup would be a rematch of their previous meeting in Madrid, where Andreeva prevailed in a difficult battle. The Russian leads the head-to-head 2-0, having also defeated Fernandez in the second round of Cincinnati in 2024, when she was only 17 years old.
With the US Open approaching, Andreeva is also looking to solve one of the few remaining questions in her young career. Despite her rapid rise and Grand Slam success, New York has been the major where she has struggled the most, with her best result remaining a third-round appearance.
“I want to hope that it will come. One year it has to come,” Andreeva said about finding success at the US Open. “I love playing in New York, but so far it hasn't been the greatest. I just hope that this year, or in the future, it's just going to come.”
The hard-court swing represents a significant opportunity for Andreeva. Unlike some top players, she does not have many ranking points to defend during the final months of the season, meaning another strong run in North America could put her closer to the top of the rankings — and potentially into the conversation for the No. 1 spot.
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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