Mirra Andreeva has been pipped to the WTA Finals post following the Kazakhstani player’s performance at the Japan Open.
Andreeva has not competed on the WTA Tour since the Ningbo Open, choosing to forgo the Japan Open and Guangzhou Open.
The Russian has endured a period of poor form since her run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals, failing to reach the latter stages in any of her next four tournaments.
Most recently, Andreeva was stunned in the Ningbo Open first round, losing to world number 219 Lin Zhu.
After skipping events in Japan and China, Andreeva will not participate in the WTA Finals; Elena Rybakina secured the final spot after reaching the Japan Open semi-finals.
The 18-year-old’s absence in Asia has also affected another aspect of her future.
Mirra Andreeva’s new ranking may harm her potential success at the 2026 Australian Open
Mirra Andreeva achieved a career-high ranking of world number five after her success at Wimbledon in July.
However, she has since fallen to world number nine.
| Name | WTA Ranking Points |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 10,390 |
| Iga Swiatek | 8,703 |
| Coco Gauff | 7,863 |
| Amanda Anisimova | 5,914 |
| Jessica Pegula | 5,183 |
| Jasmine Paolini | 4,525 |
| Elena Rybakina | 4,505 |
| Madison Keys | 4,395 |
| Mirra Andreeva | 4,319 |
| Ekaterina Alexandrova | 3,375 |
If the Russian is ranked number nine heading into the 2026 Australian Open, she will likely receive a much tougher draw than if she were still in the top eight.
If Andreeva were ranked within the top eight, she would not face another top-eight player until the quarter-final stage.
However, if Andreeva maintains her status as the world’s ninth-best player, she would be guaranteed to face a player in the top eight in the round of 16 at the 2026 Australian Open.
Andreeva has not entered another WTA Tour-level event in 2025
Andreeva’s chances of qualifying as a top-eight seed in Australia appear bleak due to her upcoming schedule.
The Russian is not on the entry list for any of the remaining WTA Tour-level events in 2025: the Jiangxi Open, Chennai Open and Hong Kong Open.
Fortunately for Andreeva, she will not lose any ranking points regardless of her competitive schedule for the rest of 2025.
This is because, in 2024, she did not compete on the WTA Tour after the Ningbo Open.
Andreeva’s absence on the WTA Tour may stand her in good stead for the 2026 season. Andreeva is a young player who must be allowed to develop at her own pace, and some time away from the spotlight may ease the pressure on her shoulders and rejuvenate her ahead of the 2026 campaign.
