“She hasn’t cracked the top 10 yet, but…”: Sam Stosur predicts big things for Mirra Andreeva

The 2024 season was dominated by Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, who collectively won nine titles, including three Grand Slams and six WTA 1000 titles. Currently ranked World No. 1 and No. 2, both players hold a significant advantage over the rest of the field.

Heading into 2025, they appear to be the favourites to dominate the season once again, with challengers such as Coco Gauff, the current World No. 3 and recent WTA Finals champion, gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina among the players most likely to challenge them.

Stosur backs Mirra Andreeva for a Top-10 breakthrough

In a recent appearance on the podcast The Tennis, Sam Stosur, former doubles World No. 1, picked the rising star she expects to make a breakthrough on the tour. “I know we have all heard of Mirra Andreeva already, but she hasn’t cracked the top 10 yet,” Stosur said on The Tennis podcast.

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“She has gone relatively deep in some Slams, but I think 2025 could be the year we see her take that next step to the next level of a Grand Slam, hit the top 10, and then really solidify herself as one of the top players on the women’s tour.”

The 17-year-old Andreeva posted an impressive 34-16 record this season, which included her first WTA title at the Iasi Open. The Russian added former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez to her team this year, who helped her reach the final at the Ningbo Open and the semi-finals at Roland Garros, finishing the season as World No. 16.

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Tennis expert Todd Woodbridge also praised Andreeva’s level at such a young age and identified the area she still needs to improve. “I would say physicality, strength,” said Woodbridge. “But she’s a young teenager, so she will get stronger, and that’s going to give her more weight of shot. The skillset is really there, I think.”

Since her debut on the tour in 2023, the Russian has proven she can defeat anyone, recording four wins against top-10 players this season, including Aryna Sabalenka (then World No. 2) in the Roland Garros quarter-finals. Additionally, Andreeva earned a silver medal in doubles alongside Diana Shnaider at the Olympic Games, losing to Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.

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