Russian teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva was recently spotted training inside the King Saud University Indoor Arena in Riyadh, sharing the practice court with World No. 3 Coco Gauff. Andreeva narrowly missed out on a singles berth at the WTA Finals by just six ranking points, but she will still compete in the doubles alongside compatriot Diana Shnaider.
Although she missed out on the singles field, Andreeva will remain on standby at the season’s final WTA event starting from November 1.
Mirra Andreeva Hits the Court in Riyadh With Coco Gauff
Andreeva’s 2025 season has been nothing short of standout, highlighted by a couple of WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. That indeed made her absence from the singles lineup at the WTA Finals all the more surprising.
The 18-year-old’s most recent appearance came at the Ningbo Open, where she enjoyed a first-round bye by virtue of being the top seed. However, her campaign ended sooner than expected, as she fell 6-4, 3-6, 2-6 to Wild Card Zhu Lin in her opening match.
Andreeva’s decision to skip the Toray Pan Pacific Open ultimately proved costly. Fellow WTA player Ellen Perez later revealed that visa issues forced the young Russian out of the event.
Her absence opened the door for World No. 6 Elena Rybakina, who needed a strong result in Tokyo to clinch her place at the WTA Finals, and she delivered, advancing to the semifinals to secure her qualification.
Nevertheless, the 18-year-old still has a strong opportunity to make her mark in the doubles draw alongside Diana Shnaider. Additionally, she and Ekaterina Alexandrova will remain on standby as singles alternates for the event.
Andreeva has already ramped up her preparations in Riyadh, joining defending champion Gauff for a vigorous training session that signaled her intent to make an impact. Check out the clips below:
COco Gauff trenowała dzisiaj z Mirrą Andreevą.
🎬 WTA Finals Riyadh | Instagram | #WTAFinals | #WTAFinalsRiyadh | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/XfrUEw25cZ
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe (@z_kortu) October 29, 2025
Although missing the final event of the season was disappointing for Andreeva, she recently received an encouraging message from a renowned veteran coach.
What Did Rick Macci Say About Andreeva After She Failed To Qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh?
Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, recently tipped Andreeva for a rise. The 70-year-old expressed confidence in Andreeva’s future, stating she will return stronger in 2026. He believes missing the 2025 WTA Finals will serve as a crucial lesson, and that could fuel her rise to become World No. 1.
“Andreeva will be locked loaded and ready to launch in 2026. Not making the 2025 finals will be a epic life lesson like no other. Adversity makes you stronger and lasts longer and the Russian Rabbit will become number one when it is all said and done. @MirraAndreevaFR,” Macci posted on X.
The Russian holds a 40-16 win-loss record in singles and will open her doubles campaign in Riyadh on November 2, partnering with Shnaider against Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.
