Mirra Andreeva, Grand Slam champion and Olympic silver medallist, opened up about the enduring influence of her elder sister Erika Andreeva during US Open media day in New York, describing the 22-year-old as the person she has always looked up to — on and off the court. The remarks offered a rare personal glimpse into the bond between two of Russia's most closely watched young tennis talents.

A Role Model, Not a Rival

Speaking candidly, the 19-year-old Mirra credited her three-years-older sister with shaping both her game and her character. 'I feel like I had more benefits because I'm younger. Tennis-wise, I didn't have to play so many tournaments that she did, and maybe that saved me some time. She was always helping me with school. She was also giving me lots of advice,' Mirra said.

'I would always copy her, because obviously she was, and she still is, my role model that I'll always look up to,' she added. The admission is notable given Mirra's own rapid ascent — yet she frames it not as competition overcome, but as a foundation built together.

Family Values Over Court Competition

The sisters, according to Mirra, were actively steered away from rivalry by their parents. 'We were never really competitive with each other,' she said. 'Because our parents always told us that because we're sisters, we're the closest people that we're going to have in life, and we should always support each other.'

Mirra also acknowledged the emotional complexity of training alongside a sibling. 'We didn't practice together a lot, because it would get messy. Not between each other and our relationship, but it would just — I don't know. I would get mad, she would get sad that I'm mad, then I'm sad that she's sad. It's a lot of different emotions,' she explained.

Erika Andreeva's Career in Focus

Erika has carved out a creditable professional record in her own right. She reached a career-high ranking of World No. 65 in October 2024 and has claimed five ITF singles titles, her most recent coming at the W75 tournament in Zagreb in May. Following an extended break after Wimbledon 2025, she has climbed nearly 150 places in the rankings and is closing in on a return to the Top 200.

Before turning professional, Erika was among the sport's standout juniors, reaching the girls' singles final at Roland Garros 2021, where she finished runner-up to Linda Noskova — who has since gone on to win Wimbledon.

Contrasting Fortunes at the US Open

The sisters' trajectories at this year's US Open have diverged sharply. Erika was eliminated in the opening round of qualifying, falling to Mariam Bolkvadze. Mirra, meanwhile, suffered a setback in the mixed doubles, where she and partner Andrey Rublev were knocked out in the semi-finals.

All eyes now shift to Mirra's singles draw, with the teenager scheduled to face World No. 35 Janice Tjen in her first-round match on Monday. How she navigates the pressure of a major singles campaign — with her sister watching from the stands rather than across the net — will be the next chapter in a story built on mutual support.