Daniil Medvedev is inarguably one of Russia’s greatest-ever tennis players, and it really feels like Mirra Andreeva is next up to emulate this path.
However, having already achieved so much at just 18 years old, there’s a genuine belief that she could go on to have an extraordinary career, potentially surpassing many legends who came before her.
Already a Grand Slam semi-finalist and a two-time Masters 1000 champion, what she has accomplished in just two and a half years on the WTA Tour is incredible.
Her upward trajectory shows no signs of halting any time soon, and the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff must fear for their long-term stability atop the world rankings, given the pace at which Mirra Andreeva continues to improve.
Daniil Medvedev, who is clearly a huge fan of hers, has suggested that 2026 will be more of the same.
Daniil Medvedev makes prediction about Mirra Andreeva
Called in for media duty ahead of his latest exhibition match in Russia, the three-time Grand Slam finalist and one-time champion was keen to tell reporters what to expect from Andreeva next year.
His assessment may have been brief, but it provided a show of faith that should help the young WTA star brush off any fears regarding her form as the 2025 season ended.
Medvedev insisted: “I follow the results of the tournaments we played together, and there are so many right now. Mirra is performing very well, and she is still very young.
“It’s a pity, of course, that she didn’t qualify for the WTA Finals after such a good start to the season, but she has a lot ahead of her, and I believe she will achieve great victories.”
Andreeva has been tipped to become the world number one eventually by one notable tennis coach. However, there have also been fears over Andreeva’s reaction to hostile atmospheres, given how she struggled in Paris against a Frenchwoman and in New York against an American.
Mirra Andreeva proves there is a huge depth in quality of women’s tennis
Although she will not be delighted by the way in which she has exhibited this, Andreeva’s 2025 season ended up being the perfect way to showcase the incredible depth in women’s tennis.
This was made especially pertinent when compared to the men’s ATP Finals, where players like Lorenzo Musetti managed to make their way into the final eight despite having failed to win a single title in 2025 and reaching just one Grand Slam semi-final.
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Meanwhile, at the WTA Finals, this teenage superstar missed out.
What made this so startling was the fact that Andreeva had won two Masters 1000 events over the previous 11 months, and also reached the quarter-finals of two majors.
It was a stellar year for the Russian, despite her form dipping as the campaign went on, yet she did not do enough to qualify as one of the top eight players of 2025.
This was likely a huge blow for her personally, but it proves that women’s tennis has arguably never been so competitive.
