- Mirra Andreeva ended a three-match losing streak with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Olivia Gadecki at the Brisbane International.
- The World No. 9 urged 17-year-old Emerson Jones to ignore outside hype and focus on her own path.
- Amanda Anisimova advanced in 63 minutes; Andreeva could meet Anisimova in the quarters.
H2: Andreeva ends skid in Brisbane
Mirra Andreeva snapped a three-match losing run in her 2026 season debut, rallying from a set down to beat Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 at the Brisbane International. The 18-year-old, who rose into the WTA Top 10 last year after back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, showed resilience as she fought through early pressure and poor recent form.
Andreeva admitted she had felt outside expectations after her big 2025 run — and that managing that pressure was a lesson learned. Down a set and facing two break points at 1-1 in the second, she saved both with strong serving, broke back with a backhand down the line, and then ran off a 13-point streak to close the second and seize control of the match.
H3: Advice for Emerson Jones
Following the match, Andreeva offered encouragement to one of the week’s other breakout teenagers, 17-year-old Emerson Jones. Jones had earlier produced a shock first-round victory over Tatjana Maria but fell to No. 10 seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-1 in round two after a fast 3-0 start.
Having experienced early fame and expectations herself, Andreeva told Jones to ignore the comparisons and focus on her own path. “There’s going to be a lot of people that would say, ‘You’re going to be the next Sharapova or the next Ash Barty,’” Andreeva said. “You just have to focus that you are who you are and you have your own career and your own path.”
Andreeva praised Jones’s talent — noting her compact frame but heavy ball-striking — but stressed that handling attention and pressure is part of growing on tour.
H4: Anisimova cruises; potential quarterfinal clash
No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova also opened her Brisbane campaign in style, dismissing wild card Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-3 in 63 minutes. The American hit 18 winners and finished strongly after an 11-point streak to close the first set and start the second.
Both Andreeva and Anisimova are one match away from a potential quarterfinal meeting, though each faces tough third-round opponents. Andreeva will again meet Linda Noskova in Brisbane — their third straight year matching up in the event — while Anisimova draws Marta Kostyuk.
H5: Watch highlights
- Samsonova withstands opening blitz by Emerson Jones: https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4429765/samsonova-withstands-opening-blitz-by-emerson-jones-to-advance-in-brisbane
- Anisimova opens 2026 season with 63-minute defeat of Birrell: https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4430029/anisimova-opens-2026-season-with-63-minute-defeat-of-birrell-in-brisbane
Mirra Andreeva’s Brisbane win served as a reset after a late-2025 slump and underlined her message to young players: manage the noise, trust your team, and carve your own path on tour. With the draw tightening, a high-stakes clash between two in-form talents could be on the horizon.
Image Referance: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4429870/from-one-teen-phenom-to-another-andreeva-has-advice-for-jones-in-brisbane
