Mirra Andreeva’s rise to the top has been nothing short of spectacular. At just 19, the Russian is already a Grand Slam champion, having conquered the 2026 French Open. Currently, she sits at a career-high World No. 5, and she earned this success by learning to navigate her anxiety and emotions on court to stay focused.
However, there is one thing the teenager absolutely dreads: playing against her older sister, Erika. For Mirra, facing her sibling across the net isn’t just a difficult athletic challenge; it is a profound emotional nightmare.
Mirra Andreeva Opens Up About “The Two Worst Days” of Her Life, Playing Against Sister Erika
Recently appearing on the “Served with Andy Roddick” podcast, Mirra listed the positives of having her sister play the same sport professionally. She credited Erika with paving the way for her, grinding through junior circuit, Tennis Europe, and ITF events, which taught Mirra to avoid unnecessary exhaustion and fast-track her transition to the pro level.
But there is a negative side to that as well. The 19-year-old opened up about the psychological toll of facing her sibling on court, reflecting on the two times they have crossed paths on the WTA Tour.
“When you have to play against each other, it’s like a nightmare,” Mirra confessed. “It’s the worst thing in the world. We’ve played twice against each other, and those are the two worst days of my life. So much pressure, so much nerves.”
Mirra recalled their first professional meeting at the 2024 Wuhan Open. Despite being opponents, the sisters chose to keep their routine, sharing a hotel room and eating breakfast together. But that only amplified the internal tension.
“I was so nervous that I was crying a little bit before the match because of so many nerves, like so many emotions. I just couldn’t handle it,” she summarized the agonizing wait before their night match.
Her sports psychologist even suggested Mirra trick her brain by pretending she was playing a fictional opponent named “Akira,” but the tactic failed entirely. Instead, the sisters spent the day together in tense silence, making the buildup to the match very ‘unpleasant’.
Their career trajectories are also very contrasting. While Mirra charged toward a top-5 ranking, 22-year-old Erika has struggled to find a similar breakthrough. Once ranked a career-high No. 65 in late 2024, Erika has recently slipped outside the world’s top 200.
Their head-to-head record remains tied at 1-1. Erika claimed their first bout in Wuhan (6-3, 6-1), while Mirra advanced in their second match at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix following Erika’s early retirement.
Now, Mirra is next scheduled to compete in the North American hardcourt swing at the Canadian Open, looking to build momentum ahead of the US Open in New York.
