Andreeva: From Frustration to Exhibition

Of all the matches that took place this Friday in Beijing, there was one that left a scoreline difficult to understand for those who did not follow it. It was the comeback of Mirra Andreeva against Yue Yuan (3-6, 6-0, 6-0), a good example that things are never as they start, as the saying goes.

The Russian did not start well in the match against the current #135 in the world rankings, showing signs of frustration and discomfort on the court. However, something changed in her mind at the end of the first set. Upon her return to the court, Conchita Martínez's pupil showcased her best self and did not lose another game for the rest of the match. How did she do it? She explained her experience during a morning where she experienced both sides of this sport.

“Yes, it was frustrating. It has nothing to do with her, of course. It has more to do with the way I was playing. I simply wasn't happy with how things were going. I felt there were so many more things I could do on the court that I wasn’t able to do,” Mirra explained when asked about her feelings in the first set.

Mirra Andreeva to the fans after beating Yue Yuan in Beijing: 

“No matter where you’re from, if you’re from China… I know some people came all the way from my hometown from Siberia.. I think they were somewhere over there, I don’t know. 😂But I just wanna say thank you to… pic.twitter.com/uNYrUL3sOc

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 2, 2026

Until the chip change came. The key was precisely in not letting that frustration turn into a bigger problem. “I guess that, with that anger towards myself, I’m happy to have been able to channel it into my game, into the match, without sinking even further. I’m just happy to have been able to turn it around,” the Russian added.

The great change of Andreeva, both mental and tactical

Andreeva also identified the tactical change that completely transformed the match. During the first set, Yuan had been the one taking the initiative, which forced the Russian to constantly play catch-up. “I felt that in the first set she was the one playing more aggressively than I was. She was the one dominating a bit more. That’s why it was difficult for me to be the one winning and taking the lead on the scoreboard,” she analyzed with maturity.

The response was immediate after the break. “In the second and third sets, my goal was to not let her be the one who dominated, but to take the initiative before she could. I felt that I did well, and I’m happy I thought about that to change things,” she explained. With the victory almost secured, Andreeva even found a curious ally to reset herself: her opponent’s bathroom break. “I guess it helped a little because I had more time. I was just thinking that I really didn’t want to lose the first match I played here. I love playing in Beijing and wanted to stay longer. I guess I found the right motivation,” concluded the woman who will now face Polina Kudermetova.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andreeva, de la frustración a la exhibición