By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Photo credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography
Andy Roddick understands the path to reaching the pinnacle of tennis.
The former world No. 1 has boldly asserted that 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva is racing towards the zenith of the sport.
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Just recently, Andreeva triumphed over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the vibrant atmosphere of the BNP Paribas Open final, securing her second consecutive WTA 1000 crown at Indian Wells.
In an impressive display, Andreeva also took down defending champion and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3, showcasing her capability by progressing to her first Indian Wells final, where she employed a masterful array of tactics against Sabalenka.
In his column for Betway, Roddick highlighted Andreeva’s elegant mobility and tactical awareness, which have consistently been her strengths. Her recent performances at Indian Wells emphasized her powerful serve, remarkable endurance, and resilience at a tender age of 17 to compete against the elite.
Roddick is confident Andreeva will ascend to the top spot in the world rankings.
“What strikes me most about Mirra Andreeva is her remarkable ability to hold her ground physically against the top players globally. I initially believed it would take some time for her to develop that strength,” Roddick remarked in his Betway column. “Competing against physically intimidating opponents like Sabalenka and Swiatek at just 17 is no easy feat.”
“I’ve never doubted her talent, but her serving has noticeably evolved in the past few months,” Roddick continued. “She’s adept at generating power on her forehand, her footwork is superb, and she has very few weaknesses in her game. It’s astonishing to consider her tennis IQ at such a young age.”
In recent months, Andreeva has demonstrated her prowess by outperforming Sabalenka to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Notably, Andreeva is now the third youngest female player to claim the Indian Wells title, joining her idol, Martina Hingis (1998), and tennis legend Serena Williams (1999). Furthermore, she’s become only the third player under 18—alongside Steffi Graf and Serena Williams—to defeat both the world No. 1 and No. 2 at the same event.
Currently ranked sixth, Andreeva is on a victory path, as Roddick noted for Betway.
“A month ago, I mentioned that she has the potential to become a future World No. 1,” Roddick said. “I’m cautious about jumping to Steffi Graf comparisons just yet, as we want to give her time to develop. However, based on her current performance, she’s poised to be one of the leading players this season.”
“Her skills are adaptable across all surfaces, she had an impressive run at Roland Garros last year, and she seems well-matched against the best in the game. Everything indicates that she’s a contender ready to make her mark sooner rather than later.”
