Mirra Andreeva triumphed over American McCartney Kessler in the Miami Open round of 64, securing her spot in the third round. Following her win, the 18-year-old Russian star said she is fine-tuning her game and growing as a player, especially after a third-round defeat at the Indian Wells Open that left her visibly emotional.
Mirra Andreeva Advances in Miami After Falling Short in Indian Wells Title Defense
Andreeva entered the tournament at Hard Rock Stadium as the eighth seed after concluding her journey at the Indian Wells Open. In California, she competed in both singles and doubles, sweeping past Solana Sierra 6-0, 6-0 in the round of 64 before her title defense was cut short by a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat to Kateřina Siniaková in the third round.
In the doubles circuit, she teamed up with Canadian Victoria Mboko and reached the quarterfinals before falling to the duo of Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunić. At the Miami Open, she overcame Kessler with a final score of 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-1 in 1 hour 58 minutes.
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The teenager clinched the first set in 21 minutes, displaying her dominance, before losing the second and rebounding to take the third. This was the second meeting between the two players; Kessler had defeated Andreeva in their first matchup at the 2025 Canadian Open in the round of 32.
After her victory, Andreeva expressed that she is learning from past mistakes and adjusting her game. She noted that she is happy to advance in the tournament held in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“I’m kind of learning from my mistakes, I guess,” Andreeva said. “So, I’m just super happy to win this match, super happy to get the win tonight or today, this morning. So, yeah, she’s an amazing player, a very dangerous opponent. So, I’m just super happy to get revenge against her. And yeah, super happy to advance further in the tournament.”
post-match interview of the princess who needs her sleep to grow and get smarter 🫠 pic.twitter.com/yzffXFa1HT
— lyks 🥐 (@crossiiini) March 20, 2026
Andreeva’s Indian Wells campaign ended in heartbreak when she lost the grueling match to Siniaková. In frustration, she smashed her racket, resulting in a code violation, and vented her anger as she departed the court.
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Her outburst caught the attention of Hall of Famers Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, as well as fans who criticized her behavior.
Roddick defended her, suggesting her passion could become a powerful asset if she learns to channel it. Clijsters added that these moments are part of growing up and that Andreeva will eventually manage them with maturity.
