"Erika has one strong plan for the match" - Mirra Andreeva believes older sister go for the kill in their highly anticipated Wuhan Open clash
Mirra Andreeva recently highlighted the differences between her playing style with her sister Erika's. However, the World No. 19 believes that her sister will go all out in their second-round clash at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday, October 9.
Mirra Andreeva, the 16th seed at the Wuhan Open, arrived on the back of a quarterfinal exit at the China Open, where she fell to home favorite Zheng Qinwen. She then began her campaign in Wuhan by defeating Wang Xiyu in the first round.
Meanwhile, Erika Andreeva arrived in Wuhan after a first-round exit in Beijing, where she lost to Greet Minnen. The 20-year-old faced challenges in her opening match at the Wuhan Open, trailing 5-2 in the first set and 4-2 in the second against Dayana Yastremska. However, she staged an impressive comeback and won the match 7-5, 6-4.
Erika and Mirra Andreeva will meet as professionals for the first time on Wednesday. Following her first-round victory, Mirra was asked about the contrasting playing styles between her and the 20-year-old. Mirra acknowledged that her sister has become more aggressive and wise on the court, but she remained unsure about how pronounced the differences between their styles are.
"I feel like Erika, she has changed her tennis style a little bit 'cause we've practiced few weeks ago together. I feel like now she's more aggressive. At the same time she's smart and she sees the court good. With this aggressiveness, she sees the opponent, where she is. She just plays in the open space. I don't know. Maybe we keep it like that. Well, I don't know. That's too hard (smiling). I don't know if there is that big of a contrast," Mirra Andreeva said during her post-match press conference.
While explaining her playing style, Mirra Andreeva said she takes her time during rallies, adjusts her rhythm, and makes quick decisions, which she believes can be advantageous as well as disadvantageous.
"Yeah, I feel like I just take more time. I change the rhythm a lot. I just play in the moment. Like, I decide during the rally what I want to do. For example, there is a lob coming. I'm like, Okay, I'm going to wait for it to bounce and then I'm going to take it. Then I see it's slow, so I'm, Okay, I'm going to take a spin ball. I feel like I can change my decisions fast. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's bad," she said.
Mirra Andreeva further noted that her older sister has a strong game plan that she follows regardless of the situation, focusing on doing whatever is necessary to secure victory. In contrast, the 17-year-old prefers a more adaptable approach.
"I feel like she has one strong plan for the match and she will do it until the match is over. Doesn't matter the score, doesn't matter the situation. She will just go for it, yeah, do whatever it takes to win. Me, I'm more kind of see what happens, then we're going to decide, all of that," she added.
Erika and Mirra Andreeva will become the third sister pair to face each other in a WTA main draw in the past 10 years
Erika and Mirra Andreeva will become the third pair of sisters to face each other in a WTA main draw in the past decade. Before that, legendary Venus and Serena Williams faced each other in the second round of Lexington in 2020, which the former ultimately won.
Additionally, Czech twins Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova competed against each other in the second round of the 2019 Birmingham Classic, with Kristyna emerging as the winner.
Whoever prevails between the Andreevas in the second round will face either Yue Yuan or third seed Jasmine Paolini in the next round.