Mirra Andreeva achieved her first victory over her older sister Erika in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Wednesday. However, the win was bittersweet as Erika had to retire due to injury, trailing 6-2, 1-0.
Erika had previously defeated Mirra in their only professional encounter and dominated their childhood practice sessions. In Stuttgart, playing as a lucky loser, Erika initially broke Mirra`s serve but then lost the next two games and required a medical time-out for her right knee. After returning with a heavily strapped knee, Mirra took control of the match.
Following the match, Mirra, the No. 5 seed, and Erika shared a heartfelt embrace. Mirra acknowledged her sister`s significant role in her own rapid success, recognizing Erika`s early influence in her tennis journey.
“If Erika hadn`t started playing tennis before me, I don`t think I would have reached this level so quickly,” Mirra stated in her post-match interview. “She paved the way for me by competing in tournaments earlier, making it easier for me to step into bigger events. I might not even be playing in this tournament this year if it weren`t for her.”
Mirra was aware of Erika`s physical struggles, as they share a room. She expressed mixed emotions after the match.
“I have really strange feelings,” she admitted. “I should be happy about winning, but I`m also very sad that it ended this way. I hope she recovers fully and comes back stronger than ever.”
Despite the somber circumstances, Mirra found a moment of joy. Noticing her coach Conchita Martínez, Mirra announced her birthday and playfully led the Stuttgart crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to her coach, even using her full first name, Concepción.
Martínez responded with good humor. Despite the day`s emotional complexity for the Andreeva family, Mirra`s career continues its upward trajectory. Her next challenge is a debut match against Ekaterina Alexandrova, as she aims for her fourth quarterfinal appearance in 2025.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth