Sister Showdown: Andreeva Sisters Face Off at Wuhan Open

The Andreeva sisters, Mirra and Erika, are set to face each other for the first time as professionals in the second round of the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open. Both sisters secured victories in their opening matches, setting the stage for a much-anticipated showdown.

No. 70-ranked lucky loser Erika Andreeva, aged 20, overcame a challenging start to defeat Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-4. Erika displayed resilience by coming from behind in both sets, saving two set points in the opening set to secure her victory. Meanwhile, her younger sibling, 17-year-old Mirra, the No. 16 seed, triumphed over home wild card Wang Xiyu 7-6(5), 6-3. Despite initial struggles on breakpoints, Mirra clinched the win with a crucial backhand winner.

After her match, Mirra expressed mixed feelings about playing against her sister, stating, “It will be like a nightmare to play against her… She will know what I will do on the court, and I know what she does.” This match marks only the third time in a decade that sisters have met in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) main draw, following Serena and Venus Williams‘ rivalry, concluded in Lexington 2020.

Both sisters have notable junior careers. Erika was the runner-up at the Roland Garros girls’ event in 2021, while Mirra was a finalist at the 2023 Australian Open. However, Mirra has surpassed her sister in professional rankings, recently debuting in the PIF WTA Top 20 after reaching the Beijing quarterfinals at a younger age than any player since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006.

Despite Mirra’s current edge in professional performance, the practice sessions between the sisters remain competitive, with Erika not having lost a set in such sessions. “We practiced a lot when we were younger and of course she would always beat me,” Mirra recounted of their past training.

Reflecting on their dynamic, Erika noted a significant change: “Honestly, Mirra was so small… The time that we played was very long ago.” As they both chase professional success, the sisters have opted to avoid playing competitive matches against each other in practice to preserve their relationship.

Mirra highlighted the influence of sibling psychology in their playing styles, noting, “I feel like now [Erika] is more aggressive… She just plays in the open space.” Despite differing strategies, the sisters agreed beforehand to split the prize money from the second round, regardless of who wins.

This event adds to the historical pattern of sibling rivalries in tennis, akin to the Williams, Radwanska, and Bondarenko sisters. With a unique family bond on display, the match promises to be not just a contest of skill but a testament to their shared journey in sports.