Erika Andreeva beats younger sister Mirra in first career meeting at Wuhan Open - 'Tough for both of us'
Published 09/10/2024 at 17:04 GMT+1
For the first time since Serena and Venus Williams in 2020, there was a meeting of two sisters on the WTA Tour as Mirra and Erika Andreeva faced off at the Wuhan Open. It was world No. 70 Erika who got the better of her younger sister with a 6-3 6-1 win. It was their first career meeting and lucky loser Erika will next face third seed Jasmine Paolini.
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Erika Andreeva admitted it was “tough for both of us” after beating higher-ranked younger sister Mirra in the second round of the Wuhan Open.
The sisters were all smiles ahead of their first career meeting on the WTA Tour.
However, world No. 19 Mirra had predicted it would be a “nightmare” facing Erika, who is ranked at No. 70 in the world, and so it turned out to be for her.
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From 3-1 up in the first set, Mirra, 17, lost nine straight games as she slipped to a 6-3 6-1 loss.
"First experience, and both of us were happy it happened at a big tournament, but I'm not sure we enjoyed it,” said Erika, 20, afterwards.
Mirra had said ahead of the contest that the last time she had played a practice match against her sister was “three to five years ago”.
However, they still seemed to be able to read other’s games well and anticipated shots early.
"It's true, because we played each other in childhood a lot," said Erika, who is a lucky loser at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open.
"I know where she will most possibly go, and she as well. Sometimes during the rally I was like, 'Normally I go there, but I know that she knows that I go there,' and I changed my decision. I'm not sure that was the best choice sometimes."
Mirra and Erika were the first sisters to face each other on the WTA Tour since Serena and Venus Williams in 2020.
Mirra had a point in the first set to go 4-1 up with a double break of serve.
But after letting that chance go the match quickly got away from her and Erika won 11 of the last 12 games to seal her place in the last 16.
It is Erika’s second career top-20 win and she will next face third seed Jasmine Paolini, who beat Yuan Yue 6-4 6-3.
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka were also victorious at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday.
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