She may not be seeded. She may not be front and center of the WTA headlines every week. But ask 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva where she sees herself in the global tennis hierarchy, and her answer is as clear as her two-handed backhand: “I’m pretty sure I’m still a Top 10 player.”
And just like that, Mirra Andreeva—cool, composed, and ever so quietly dangerous—reintroduces herself to the tennis world. As the Eternal City gears up for the 2025 Italian Open, the rising Russian star arrives with the kind of energy that commands attention. Not from arrogance, but from a growing belief that her moment is still just beginning.
In the cobbled streets of Rome and the red clay courts of Foro Italico, Andreeva is ready to prove she hasn’t just flirted with elite status—she belongs there.
The Spark That Never Faded
It’s been over a year since Mirra Andreeva burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old prodigy, fearlessly dismissing seasoned opponents in Madrid and Paris. Back then, she had the energy of youth and the unpredictability of a wildcard. Fast forward to 2025, and what she now possesses is even more formidable: experience, poise, and perspective.
Despite a few setbacks, Andreeva’s rise hasn’t stalled—it’s recalibrated. She cracked the Top 40 before turning 17, notching wins over Grand Slam champions and grinding her way through tough draws. But with the WTA landscape constantly shifting, staying in the top tier is just as difficult as getting there.
Still, her Rome declaration—“I’m pretty sure I’m still a Top 10 player”—wasn’t a stretch. It was a statement of intent.
Andreeva believes she’s right where she should be. And in many ways, the numbers back her up.
A Mental Game Beyond Her Years
For all the discussions around her footwork, clean groundstrokes, and tactical maturity, perhaps Mirra’s greatest strength is between the ears. Confidence without cockiness. Hunger without recklessness. The kind of mental clarity players twice her age struggle to sustain.
“I know there are rankings, and sometimes they don’t show the whole story,” Andreeva said during a pre-tournament press session in Rome. “But when I play my best tennis, I believe I can beat anyone. That’s what a Top 10 player does.”
That self-assuredness is rare. But it’s earned. Over the past 12 months, she’s built a reputation as one of the most dangerous floaters in any draw. Whether on clay, hard courts, or even the occasional indoor event, Andreeva plays like a player who knows her moment is inevitable—it’s just a matter of when.
Rome as the Proving Ground
With the eyes of the tennis world focused on clay-court titans like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva enters Rome in a position she knows well—just outside the spotlight. And that’s exactly where she thrives.
This year’s Italian Open is her chance to send a loud reminder. Her smooth movement on clay, high tennis IQ, and creative shot-making make her a dark horse, if not an outright threat. Rome is more than a tune-up for Roland Garros. For Andreeva, it’s a proving ground.
And she’s approaching it like a Top 10 player would.
“No pressure, but I want to win,” she laughed. “You can’t just say you’re Top 10. You have to show it every day. So that’s what I’m here to do.”
Style That Stands Out
If you’ve watched Andreeva play, you know her tennis doesn’t shout—it whispers and then stings. Her court craft is a blend of patience and precision. She can rally for 20 shots and still have the energy to inject a sudden drop shot that tilts the momentum in her favor.
Tactically, she thinks like a veteran. She doesn’t just play the ball; she plays the opponent.
“She reminds me of a young Martina Hingis, but with the work ethic of someone like Simona Halep,” one former WTA coach recently said. “She doesn’t overwhelm you physically, but she unravels you mentally.”
In Rome, where long rallies are rewarded and shot tolerance becomes a weapon, Andreeva’s game could shine. Especially against higher-ranked players who may not expect the grit hiding behind her soft-spoken demeanor.
Respect Earned from Rivals
Despite her age, Andreeva has already earned nods of respect from the sport’s biggest stars. After a match in Madrid, Coco Gauff commented: “She’s going to be around for a long time. She already plays like a Top 10 player—it’s just a matter of time before the rankings catch up.”
Similarly, Iga Swiatek noted Andreeva’s “natural feel for the court” after their 2024 French Open practice session, calling her “one to watch closely.”
Even legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have highlighted her potential during broadcasts, praising her shot selection and emotional control. Not many teenagers get that kind of endorsement.
The Road Ahead: More Than Rankings
Sure, Mirra Andreeva isn’t currently listed among the Top 10 WTA players on paper. But rankings are snapshots—they capture the past, not always the potential. What makes Andreeva’s journey so compelling is the sense that she’s building toward something much bigger.
This isn’t a player banking on one hot run or viral moment. This is a young woman building her game brick by brick—on her terms. Her team isn’t rushing her. Her schedule is selective. Her goals are long-term.
“I don’t need to peak at 17,” she said in a recent interview. “I want to be great at 20, 25, 28. That’s what I’m working for.”
And yet, there’s something exciting about seeing glimpses of that greatness right now. Especially in a place like Rome, where legends are made and belief becomes legacy.
Social Buzz and Fan Connection
Andreeva’s quiet confidence hasn’t gone unnoticed online either. Clips of her drop shots, reaction-less fist pumps, and charming press moments circulate like wildfire. Fans have dubbed her “The Silent Assassin” for her ability to dispatch players with minimal fuss and maximum skill.
“She doesn’t need to scream or celebrate wildly,” one fan commented on Instagram. “Her game does the talking. And it’s fluent in greatness.”
On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #AndreevaRising trends every time she pulls off an upset—or even just takes the court. Tennis fans love an underdog story, but they’re even more drawn to a future icon in real-time development.
Final Rally: Mirra’s Message to the World
As Rome opens its gates to the world’s best, Mirra Andreeva is not asking for attention. She’s earning it.
With a smile that hides a fierce competitor and a calm that unnerves opponents, she carries herself like someone who knows exactly who she is. A Top 10 player—not just in her mind, but in her mission.
So watch closely. Not just for what she does in the next week or the next match, but for what she’s becoming.
She may be 17, but Mirra Andreeva plays with a presence far beyond her years. Rome may just be the place where the world finally sees what she’s known all along:
She’s not chasing the Top 10. She’s already there in spirit. The rest is just a matter of scoreboard math.
