Smy Tennis News|Mirra Andreeva Earns Emotional Win Over Sister Erika at Stuttgart Open

World No. 7 Mirra Andreeva overcame her older sister Erika Andreeva in a round of 32 match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Though the match ended prematurely due to Erika’s injury, Mirra admitted that facing her sister was mentally more difficult than playing top-ranked opponents.

Mirra Andreeva Earns Emotional Win Over Sister Erika at Stuttgart Open

STUTTGART, Germany – April 16, 2025 — Rising tennis star Mirra Andreeva, currently ranked world No. 7, added another victory to her growing resume at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix — but this time, it came under emotionally complex circumstances as she faced her elder sister, Erika Andreeva, across the net.

The highly anticipated all-Andreeva match ended earlier than expected, as Erika, 20, was forced to retire with a knee injury while trailing 6-2, 1-0 in their round of 32 encounter.

Mirra, who just last month stunned the tennis world by defeating both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek on her way to claiming the Indian Wells title, admitted that this particular match was uniquely challenging — not because of skill, but because of the emotional dynamics of facing family.

“For me, 75%-80% is about mental preparation,” Mirra told reporters after the match. “You’re not just thinking about how to beat your opponent. You’re also wondering, does she feel good? What’s going to happen after the match? It’s hard to focus when she’s my sister.”

Despite her growing success on the WTA Tour, Mirra revealed that beating Erika — even in practice — had long been an elusive goal. The sisters had only officially met once before, in Wuhan last year, where Erika won in straight sets. In their practice matches growing up, Erika had a dominant record.

“Until now, I never won a set against her — not even in practice,” Mirra said. “She had a 90% win record over me. So yes, it’s the first time I’ve taken a set, and technically the match. But I know if she had been 100%, things would’ve been very different.”

The sisters are currently sharing a room during the tournament, so Mirra was already aware that Erika was struggling with her knee before the match began. Even so, she hopes that their paths will cross again on tour under better conditions.

“I’m sure we’ll play many more matches in the future and show our best tennis,” Mirra added with a smile.

Looking ahead, Mirra Andreeva will now face fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the round of 16. With the emotional weight of this family match behind her, she will aim to continue her strong momentum on the clay courts of Stuttgart.