SINGAPORE, 24 September 2026 — French Open champion Mirra Andreeva made a composed start to her Singapore Tennis Open campaign yesterday, cruising into the quarter-finals with clinical precision on the indoor hard courts.
Andreeva defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2 and progressed to the quarter finals where she will meet Leyla Fernandez tomorrow.
For a player known for raw energy, the standout feature of her opening victory was an icy, unflappable demeanor. Andreeva closed out match point with an ace, gave a subtle nod, and calmly walked to the net to shake hands without so much as an explosive celebration.
Speaking to Sport Plus trackside following her first win on local soil, Andreeva explained that the cool on-court display was all part of the rhythm she embraced on the day.
"Today I was just feeling a little bit more calm," Andreeva shared. "Of course, I was happy when I won points. I would internally say 'Come on, let's go, keep it up', just supporting myself inside. But it was kind of the vibe today: just be a little bit calmer, accept no matter what happens, and carry on."
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
Translating Practice to Match Day Dominance
Andreeva’s serve fired cleanly from the baseline, dictating pace against an opponent unable to find answers to her depth and accuracy.
"I'm very happy with the way I was playing," she said. "I've been having some great days of practice, working on my serve and my game. I'm super happy that I was able to implement that on the court today. It gives a lot of confidence when you see yourself improving."
The local crowd turned out in force to witness the Roland Garros champion live, though Andreeva noted with a smile that local spectators were generous in dividing their loyalty.
"The support I received today was incredible," she noted. "Everyone was so excited. Honestly, I was expecting maybe they would be a little bit more on my side! But they had the same amount of support for my opponent because they were just so happy to watch live tennis. That support meant a lot, and I hope people bring that same energy into the next round."
Coffee, Catch-ups, and Quarter-Final Prep
With Thursday serving as a rest day ahead of Friday’s quarter-finals, Andreeva is keeping her routine relaxed. Outside of scheduled court practice, she plans to decompress in the Lion City alongside a close tour friend.
"We spent the whole day after practice yesterday talking nonstop—by the end, my throat was actually hurting from talking so much," Andreeva laughed. "Tomorrow we’ll probably do something similar. Go somewhere, grab a coffee or a lemonade, and just keep chatting. It's nice to have that comfort away from the court."
The break will be brief. Friday presents a stern test against either Leylah Fernandez or Alycia Parks, two players whose aggressive hard-court firepower Andreeva knows well.
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
"No matter who wins, it’s going to be really tough. Hard court indoors means both of them play fast," Andreeva said. "Alicia has a great, powerful serve and plays super aggressive. Leylah likes to take the ball early and go for her shots. My coaches are watching right now to get the tips ready. No matter who I face, I'll be ready."
As for bearing the weight of Grand Slam glory and the expectations that follow, Andreeva remains characteristically grounded: "Today, I wasn’t even nervous before the match. I just told myself to go out and play."
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