Is Mirra Andreeva keeping an eye on the rankings? – “This makes things a bit easier for me”

Recently, Mirra Andreeva admitted she hadn’t realised when she secured her place in the top 10, which she achieved by reaching the final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The Russian went on to win her first WTA 1000 title and reached her career-high ranking of World No. 9.

In a press conference, she revealed that she used to be constantly checking the live rankings because she had set herself a goal of breaking into the top 20 due to a deal with her mother: if she made it, she’d be allowed to get a dog — one of her biggest dreams.

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“I was playing for a dog”

Andreeva is now on a 10-match winning streak after reaching the Indian Wells semifinals, having defeated 23rd seed Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-3. The 17-year-old had previously spoken about her desire to adopt a puppy, agreeing with her mum that if she ended the year inside the top 20, she could finally get one.

With a strong finish to 2024, Andreeva broke into the top 20 for the first time after reaching the quarterfinals at the WTA 1000 China Open, where she suffered a painful loss to Zheng Qinwen (7-5, 0-6, 4-6). Nevertheless, she hasn’t dropped out of that group since and ended the year ranked No. 15.

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“Before, I was always checking live rankings, because before, I was playing for a dog. So after every match I played, I would check the live rankings to see if I did it,” she stated. “But now it's not that I don't care, but I try not to focus on that, and I try to focus on the match that I have to play. I like this.”

“I would say it's pretty easy, because I don't think about the rankings or the points I have to defend if I have to, so I just don't really follow the rankings or anything. This makes things a bit easier for me.”

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When asked about the dog situation, Andreeva shared an update: “Well, no dog yet, because we're still kind of thinking what’s gonna be better. I'm thinking of getting a girl because girls are usually a bit smaller, so it’ll be easier to travel with her.”

“I'm thinking about getting an ultra-mini Labradoodle. It’s going to be a Labrador mixed with a Poodle, and it’s ultra-mini, so even smaller than the mini version. It’ll take some time until the dog I want is born,” she added. “We wait for now.”

“I was supposed to be top 20 by the end of last year, and I did it when I won against Magda Linette in Beijing. I think I was 19 or 18, and I sent the screenshot to my mum. She was like, ‘No.’ And I was like, ‘Yes.’ That was the match when I entered the top 20. But we’re still waiting for the dog.”

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