“Did Zero Things Better Than Sabalenka,” Former American ATP Legend Left Shocked at Mirra Andreeva’s Comeback in Indian Wells Final

Mirra Andreeva’s rise has captivated the tennis world. She first caught attention in 2023 with gritty performances and broke through in 2024, winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and a title in Iasi. In 2025, the 17-year-old started strong with a semifinal run at Brisbane and a fourth-round finish at the Australian Open. She bounced back with a victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, before claiming her second consecutive WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells by beating Aryna Sabalenka. Looks like Andreeva is rewriting tennis history and Andy Roddick is gobsmacked at her ability to turn the tables!

In case you missed it, on March 16, Andreeva toppled world number one Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to capture her second WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells. Speaking on the ‘Served’ podcast, the former ATP pro noted how he was taken aback by her prowess, stating, “It seems like the steps that she’s taking, if you miss seeing her in action for a month, it almost feels like you’re going to see a different version of her a month later.” What’s he talking about?

Andreeva showed significant improvement compared to earlier in the season when Aryna Sabalenka beat her twice—at the Brisbane semifinals and Australian Open fourth round. Roddick noted the difference: “I didn’t know her serve was as big as it was when I watched her three weeks ago. She’s able to open up the shoulders on the forehand…cross more so than down the line.” Despite losing the first set 6-2, Andreeva broke Sabalenka three times in the final set with sharp forehands and precise backhands.

Her composure stood out as she landed 80% of first serves in the second set, setting up her comeback. Roddick remarked, “She did exactly zero things better than Sabalenka and somehow just hung on long enough to turn it around.” Although, it’s worth noting that she’s smashing an impressive 95 aces so far. In her showdown against Sabalenka, she fired six aces while Aryna managed just one.

With wins at Dubai and Indian Wells, Andreeva became the youngest player since Martina Hingis in 1997 to win back-to-back WTA 1000 titles. Additionally, she received comparisons to the former Russian Pro Maria Sharapova, who won three WTA 1000 titles in one season by age 19. However she did note that this only added pressure to her game.

On the other hand, it’s not just Andy who was blown away. Even Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci praised her progress, calling her a “turbo-charged Russian Rabbit” for her elite movement.

Rick Macci applauds Mirra’s rise during the Indian Wells Open

After her stellar performance against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the Indian Wells title, legendary coach Rick Macci is singing the praises of this teenage prodigy. On March 18, he took to X to express his admiration, writing, “Her first serve is already a weapon at 17 with precision and a mature visual decision. She gets free lunches with aces/non-returns and shortbreads to munch on is another major weapon in the SIDE POCKET of the soon-to-be number one RUSSIAN ROCKET.” Funnily enough, Mirra herself is embracing the nickname! During her post-match speech, she joked about being a “rabbit” trying to fend off the “bullets” fired by Sabalenka.

On the other hand, Macci’s praise went beyond playful nicknames. He highlighted Andreeva’s first serve as a mature and precise weapon that has become a formidable part of her game. He noted her knack for scoring aces and non-returns, attributing this success to her strategic use of her side pocket. Drawing comparisons to Maria Sharapova, whom he once coached, Macci praised Andreeva’s mental fortitude and focus. He boldly predicted she could become a double-digit Slam champion and potentially the best Russian player ever if she stays injury-free.

Now as Mirra Andreeva prepares for her next tournament in Miami for the Sunshine Double, she aims to continue her incredible momentum. Will she deliver a back-to-back win? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post “Did Zero Things Better Than Sabalenka,” Former American ATP Legend Left Shocked at Mirra Andreeva’s Comeback in Indian Wells Final appeared first on EssentiallySports.