Mirra Andreeva, the rising Russian tennis star who recently achieved a career-high world No. 7 ranking, faced a unique challenge at the Stuttgart Open on Wednesday—battling her elder sister Erika.
Despite the anticipation of a sibling rivalry, the match was cut short when Erika, who had been leading their head-to-head record, was forced to retire due to a knee injury while trailing 6-2, 1-0.
For Mirra, playing against her sister posed a mental hurdle she hadn’t encountered in previous matches, including wins over top-ranked players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. "It's not just about focusing on myself; I also worry about her, wondering if she feels okay," Mirra shared.
The emotional complexity of facing a family member made the match harder to navigate, despite the outcome leaning in her favor.
This encounter was particularly significant for Mirra, who had never won a set against Erika until now. While acknowledging that her sister's injury affected the match, she reflected on their past encounters, including an official match last year in Wuhan where Erika came out on top.
"If she had been 100 percent, the result would have been different," Mirra said, looking forward to future opportunities for the sisters to compete at their best. Mirra now prepares to face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16.
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