“I'm very excited to be the defending champion”

Mirra Andreeva conquered many fans after last year she won at Indian Wells. With her exuberance and effervescent tennis, she then defeated Elena Rybakina, Elena Svitolina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. In addition, he was also coming after winning the Dubai tournament.

Then his results were not the same, only managing to reach a final again in early 2026 in Adelaide. Asked at the press conference why the level of her tennis dropped over the course of last season, Mirra said:

“I probably didn't lose my level. I just had trouble playing and using that level in all the tournaments I played. I was a little inconsistent, sometimes yes, sometimes not, which was a new experience for me. But now, if it happens again, I know how to handle the situation and what to do. I wouldn't say I lost the level I was playing at. I just didn't use it every time I played in tournaments”said the teenager from Russia.

Mirra Andreeva in action PHOTO Imago Images

Does she feel pressure because she is in Indian Wells as the defending champion? “I was worried about defending my points in Dubai since Roland Garros. So yes, I was thinking about it quite a bit. But when I got to Dubai, the only thing I felt was the excitement of being there again, experiencing new emotions as the reigning champion.

Again, it was all new to me, but for some reason I didn't feel the pressure I thought I would. It's the same here. I am very excited to be here the en-titre champion, to see my photos almost everywhere, in every corner. It's nice to be here again and now I don't feel any pressure to defend my points”answered Mirra.

In Dubai, in 2026, she lost in the quarterfinals to Amanda Anisimova, and in Indian Wells she will make her debut directly in the second round, being the eighth favorite, against the winner of the Peyton Stearns–Solana Sierra match.

Mirra Andreeva: “I think it's quite complicated to have a normal life”

Even though she didn't get what she wanted in the second part of the season, Conchita Martinez remained the Russian coach. How is their collaboration now after another year together?

“I don't know if we have matured. I think it's all about the same. I wouldn't say anything has changed. We still have a lot of fun. We continue to be on the field, we work hard and we know when it's time to stop having fun and get down to business. Otherwise, I think our relationship is the same,” Andreeva said. The 1994 Wimbledon champion has been working with Mirra since 2024.

Andreeva also talked about other things that please her, beyond the tennis court, especially since at the end of last year she received the much-dreamed-of gift, a dog. She wanted an ultra mini labradoodle as a reward for making the Top 20, having managed to spend a large part of the season in the Top 10 last year.

Mirra Andreeva and Ressi

“My chicken was supposed to be ultra mini. I think we can all agree that it is not ultra mini. He may be mini now, but hopefully he stays mini and doesn't become a Labradoodle. He is one year old. I hope she doesn't grow any more and stays at her current size, because otherwise it will be very difficult to travel with her. We pray that it does not grow any further and that it stays that way.” said smiling Mirra, who named her quadruped Ressi.

The crossover we didn't know we needed 🥹@carlosalcaraz 🐶 pic.twitter.com/5Rs2b6svS6

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 3, 2026

Mirra brought Ressi with her to Indian Wells, and the dog has already made a splash among the other players. “I think it's quite complicated to have a normal life when you travel all year to different countries, but the best thing I can do is try to take my family with me on tours. Now we can try to take the puppy with us.

It's my first time traveling on a tour with a dog, so it's a new experience for me as well: I'm not only focusing on myself, I'm also taking care of another little creature that follows me everywhere. So, this is new for me, and the best I can do is to have my family most of the time. That helps me the most,” Mirra concluded.