"Too Much Media Attention": Dementieva's Take on Andreeva's Season

Mirra Andreeva had to deal with a new status this season. Significant media pressure that, according to Elena Dementieva, weighed on the young Russian and partly explains a more delicate end to the year.

© AFP

Jules Hypolite

le 20/12/2025 à 22h10

2 min to read

Andreeva Mirra Dementieva Elena

World No. 9 at just 18 years old, Mirra Andreeva impressed during the first part of the season by consecutively winning the WTA 1000 tournaments in Dubai and Indian Wells.

She then followed up with quarterfinals at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, before going through a more complicated end to the season, marked by a record of five wins and as many defeats between August and October, and a near-miss qualification for the WTA Finals.

"There was an enormous amount of media attention"

The young Russian seemed to feel the weight of this new status, with increased pressure to manage. An observation shared by former player Elena Dementieva, interviewed by the media Championat:

"I think next season will be more favorable for her. She will have the opportunity to consolidate her place in the top 10 and aim for the biggest titles.

Some things are due to her age. It can be considered that she is going through a transitional stage in her career. She has to go through this, learn to manage her emotions and feelings.

Her team had set very specific goals and they achieved them very quickly. Two titles in a row, an entry not only into the top 10, but also into the top 5... It was a surprise for them.

There was also an enormous amount of media attention, a lot of conversations, comparisons with other great stars and legends of this sport. That unsettled her a bit."