Andreeva: "Time passes very quickly, I don't want to grow old"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 29 Apr 2026 | 08.12

Mirra Andreeva talks about her emotions in Madrid. Photo: gettyimages

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Mirra Andreeva is taking many steps forward in her progression during this Mutua Madrid Open 2026 and emerges as the main opposition to the established power embodied by Sabalenka. The Russian, already in the semifinals, went through a press conference to address various issues that highlight her interesting personality.

The growth of Mirra Andreeva in the Mutua Madrid Open 2026 continues to consolidate. Qualified for the semifinals for the first time in the Spanish capital, the Russian analyzed her performance, her mental evolution, and a very special personal moment, just on the verge of turning 19 years old.

This is what Mirra Andreeva said after reaching the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open 2026

A match of maturity and emotional control

"I am very excited about the result, super happy with the way I played today. I am also pleased to have remained composed. I saved many break points and also set points, so I am very happy with the victory and very excited for tomorrow. Today I tried to turn things around and not let what happened yesterday repeat itself."

"I felt that I did a better job. Still, at times I was quite emotional, but I feel that it is a tennis match and sometimes things happen. The most important thing is how you handle it and how you reset for the next point, and today was much better than yesterday."

Learning from the past without dwelling on it

"Last year I thought a lot about that winning streak and also this year, but it's not easy. When you have a lot of confidence, you don't feel as much pressure and just play your aggressive tennis throughout the match. That's what happened to me when I won those tournaments. Then comes a bit of pressure and expectations, and you no longer feel as secure. It takes time to regain that confidence. I try not to dwell too much on it, because those were incredible results, but they are in the past. I try to improve other aspects and not bring that back, but rather create something new."

Between excitement and nostalgia for growth

"I am very excited for tomorrow, but at the same time, I felt a little sad. I don't want to grow up; I want to stay at 18 and be a child all the time. I feel time passes very quickly, and I'm about to turn 19. I don't know, I'm excited but also a bit sad. I don't feel like I'm changing much as a person; perhaps I have become calmer off the court. Before, I wanted to spend more time talking to my family after matches, and now I just want to go back to the room, be alone, read, watch a series, or be on my phone without talking to anyone. But in general, I am still the same Mirra."

A tennis game that adapts to feelings

"When you have break points against you, it is important to look for the first serve to try to win the point quickly. If it doesn't work, I try to build the point from the baseline. Today I felt that I could do a lot of damage with my forehand; for some reason, it was more dangerous, so I tried to use it more, and it worked very well after a few games in the first set. I try to use all my shots, but there are days when one works better than another, and then I try to adapt to that."

The importance of bonds on the circuit

"I think it is very individual. Some players don't have many friends and prefer to be alone with their team, but I have always wanted to have some friends on the circuit. Now I feel that I have people I can share my feelings with and talk about anything. For me, it is important to have someone who is also going through the same thing because family can understand you, but they have not played and do not know exactly how it feels on the court. Other players understand it better. I think it depends on each person, but I find it helpful to have some good friends."

At the Mutua Madrid Open 2026, we are witnessing a Mirra Andreeva who is battling with herself but also surpassing tennis and emotional limits. She not only continues to advance in the draw but also in her maturity as a player. Between competitive demands and the naturalness of her age, the Russian shows an evolution that combines talent, self-criticism, and an increasing ability to understand the game and herself.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andreeva: "El tiempo pasa muy rápido, no quiero hacerme mayor"