Sabalenka on Andreeva: "She has flair and is very mature"
Runner-up at the WTA 1000 in Indian Wells, world number one Aryna Sabalenka missed a second opportunity to win in California, having already lost the final two years ago. Defeated by the 17-year-old prodigy Mirra Andreeva, the Belarusian was impressed by the progress of her young opponent.
Speaking at a press conference before starting her tournament in Miami, Sabalenka was once again asked about the Russian, and unsurprisingly, she predicted a bright future for her.
"Mirra has undoubtedly improved her game, as shown by the result (of the final in Indian Wells, Sabalenka had won their two previous encounters in 2025). She moves well on the court and hits the ball very well. She has flair and is very mature.
I can't predict when she will win a Grand Slam and become world number one, but she certainly will. I have already faced her several times when she was 15, 16, and 17 years old, but I look forward to our next match and I want to get my revenge.
We all see the success she has already achieved, and she will certainly be a great player. As for young players, we are all different, and each has different challenges.
If you want to climb the ranks faster, you really need to surround yourself with a good team and the right people to have a healthy environment around you. If these conditions are met, things become easier.
It's very difficult to succeed in sports when you have a lot of stress off the court. That's the main factor that makes some young players progress easily while others struggle more," Sabalenka told Tennis Majors.
Miami 
