Roddick: Mirra Andreeva is a genuine slam contender
The 17-year-old Russian won back to back WTA1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells this year
Julien Nouet/Tennis Majors
Mirra Andreeva showed everyone just how good she is when she won the Dubai title and then followed up by winning the Indian Wells crown, back to back WTA 1000s.
At 17, the Russian, who is already in the top 10, seems to have everything she needs to compete with the very best and former world No 1 Andy Roddick believes she’s headed towards the very top, a future world No 1.
“I said on our show (his podcast) a month ago that I thought she looks like a future world No 1 for sure,” Roddick said in his role as Betway ambassador. “I don’t like to jump from winning in Dubai to Steffi Graf comparisons – that seems like we’re skipping a couple of years – but just based on how she’s playing, she’s going to be firmly in the conversation to be one of the top couple of players this year.”
Roddick said he had been most impressed by Andreeva’s physical improvement in the past year and hiow she plays when up against the very best, like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, both dismissed on her way to the Indian Wells title.
“I thought that physicality was going to take some time,” Roddick said. “It’s not easy when you’re trying to beat people as physically dominant as Sabalenka and Sviatek and you’re 17. I’ve never questioned her tennis, but she’s serving now like she’s levelled up amazingly well in the last four or five months.
“She’s able to open up the shoulders on the forehand cross, her movement is already elite and there aren’t a lot of holes in her game. I don’t know that anyone ever really questioned her tennis IQ, which is crazy to say about someone who’s 17.”
“It seems like she’s fine matching up against top players”
Next step for Andreeva is to compete for Grand Slam titles, with her best effort to date so far a semi-final run at the French Open last year. Roddick expects her to be at the business end of slams soon.
“She seems like she’s fluent on all surfaces,” he said. “She had a great run at Roland-Garros last year and it seems like she’s fine matching up against the top players in the world. Everything points to her being a contender sooner than later.”
