Mirra Andreeva matches Venus Williams as 18-year-old phenom storms into third straight Australian Open second week
The No 8 seed Mirra Andreeva reached the fourth round in Melbourne for the third consecutive year on Friday, securing a clinical 6-3, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse to set up a blockbuster encounter with Elina Svitolina.
Mirra Andreeva, Indian Wells 2025
The 18-year-old world No 8 has rewritten the record books with her latest triumph on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. By advancing to the last 16, Mirra Andreeva has become the first woman since the legendary Venus Williams to reach the fourth round or better in each of her first three Australian Open singles main draw appearances.
Williams achieved the feat between 1998 and 2001, and Andreeva’s mirroring of that consistency, spanning 2024, 2025, and now 2026, cements her status as the most elite prospect in the women’s game. Andreeva arrived at this stage in devastating form, having previously dismantled Maria Sakkari and outlasted Donna Vekic to improve her 2026 season record to an impressive 9-1.
Historical consistency and a clinical performance
Facing the 28-year-old world No 79 Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Andreeva showcased a level of maturity that belies her teenage years. Ruse had entered the contest as a dangerous giant-killer, having already eliminated Ajla Tomljanovic and the No 26 seed Dayana Yastremska earlier in the week.
However, she found no answers for Andreeva’s relentless baseline depth and tactical variety. The 18-year-old Russian, who made her global breakthrough on these same courts as a 16-year-old in 2024, utilized her high tennis IQ to break Ruse’s serve multiple times in both sets. While the Romanian attempted to mount a late charge in the second set, Andreeva’s seven-match winning streak remained intact as she closed out the victory in just under 100 minutes.
The victory further highlights the “elite consistency” that has defined Andreeva’s rise. Since making her debut in 2024, she has never failed to reach the second week in Melbourne, a record that places her in a category of her own among the current generation of stars.
Her ability to navigate the pressure of being a top 10 seed while still technically a teenager has been one of the primary storylines of the 2026 tour. With nine wins and only one loss to start the year, she enters the business end of the first Grand Slam of the season with the physical and mental momentum of a title contender.
A clash of streaks against Elina Svitolina
The stage is now set for one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament’s second week. On Sunday, Mirra Andreeva will face the No 12 seed Elina Svitolina in a clash between two of the most successful players of the 2026 season so far. Svitolina reached the last 16 earlier on Friday with a win over Diana Shnaider and currently boasts an eight-match winning streak of her own. The encounter will be a fascinating battle of defensive brilliance and counter-punching expertise, with both players having combined for 17 wins in the month of January alone.
For Andreeva, the matchup represents a chance to surpass her previous runs and reach her first Australian Open quarterfinal. Having matched the historic debut record of Venus Williams, the 18-year-old is now looking to carve out a legacy entirely her own. As the tournament shifts its focus to the second week, the world will be watching to see if the young sensation can overcome the experience of the resurgent Ukrainian to continue her march toward a maiden Grand Slam title.
