Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva skips Berlin as Wimbledon preparation takes priority

Mirra Andreeva has withdrawn from the WTA 500 event in Berlin, a decision made in the aftermath of her Roland Garros title run. The 19-year-old world No. 6 had been scheduled to compete next week (June 15–21), but will instead adjust her grass-court preparation following the most significant breakthrough of her career in Paris.

The withdrawal comes just days after Andreeva secured her first Grand Slam title on the clay courts of Roland Garros, a result that has reshaped both expectations and scheduling priorities around her immediate return to competition.

Her team opted for a controlled transition into the grass-court swing, prioritising recovery after the physical and mental demands of a two-week major campaign. Instead of Berlin, Andreeva is now expected to begin her grass season at the WTA 500 event in Bad Homburg (June 21–27), before heading to Wimbledon.

The Russian will follow a similar path to Iga Swiatek, focusing on adapting to grass courts through individual training sessions and only stepping onto competitive match courts during the week leading into Wimbledon. As a result, Berlin is left with “only” eight top-10 players in its draw, led by Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina as the main title contenders.

Andreeva’s Roland Garros title marked a defining milestone in her rapid rise, but it also compressed her calendar heading into the grass season. The decision to skip Berlin aligns with a broader management approach often used by top players immediately after winning a major, where recovery and surface transition become priority variables.

The teenager made a clear adjustment to her schedule after securing her first major title, now focusing her energy on maintaining form and arriving in strong physical condition for SW19. Guided by Conchita Martínez — a former Wimbledon champion herself — Andreeva’s approach is centred on improving her results in London, where she reached the quarterfinals a year ago.

“My team and I have decided to take more time to rest, recover and better prepare for grass,” Andreeva said in a tournament social media post. “I’ll miss the time in Berlin. Hope to be back next year!”

She is not the only withdrawal from the tournament, as she joins Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, who is recovering from an injury suffered during her recent appearance at the Queen’s Club Championships. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist suffered a right ankle injury just before her debut against Harriet Dart at Queen’s, meaning she will arrive at Wimbledon without any grass-court matches beforehand.

Berlin stands out as the most competitive grass-court event in the Wimbledon build-up, at least in terms of ranking strength among its participants. Despite the withdrawals of Andreeva and Bencic, the tournament is still expected to feature a high-level draw, including eight top-10 players.

The field will be led by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina, currently ranked world No. 3, both among the main favourites for the title.

The tournament will also feature 12 players from the top 20 and has recently confirmed wildcards for several notable names, including Filipino player Alexandra Eala (No. 33) and local representative Eva Lys (No. 24). Lys has been affected by injuries in recent months, missing several tournaments and dropping in the rankings, but will see Berlin as an opportunity to regain momentum and rebuild her position ahead of Wimbledon.