Mirra Andreeva acknowledges it is a bit tricky playing Ukrainian players during these times but insists she will remain focused on herself and try to avoid any distractions before or during her Indian Wells match against Elina Svitolina.
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The Russian tennis star, who recently became a WTA 1000 champion in Dubai, destroyed 2023 Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina 6-1 6-2 to reach the quarterfinal in the desert and also clinch her ninth consecutive win and improve to 16-3 in 2025.
In her next match, Andreeva will battle against Svitolina, who earned a quarterfinal ticket by ousting home favorite No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula 5-7 6-1 6-2. For the 17-year-old, it will be her first meeting against the 30-year-old but also her first clash against a Ukrainian player this year.
As you probably know, Svitolina has been one of the most vocal Ukrainian players since the start of the war and she admitted in some of her past interviews that she is extra motivated against Russian rivals. Also, she nor other Ukrainian players have been shaking hands with Russian or Belarusian players for three years now.
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Andreeva on if facing Svitolina is challenging, even 'awkward' because of no-handshake
"Yeah, of course it's not easy, but I have played maybe... I don't know, four or five matches against Ukrainian players," the rising Russian star said.
"And, I just try not to think about it. I just try to focus on my game, to do my routines, to prepare myself that it's not going to be easy.
"I'm just going to try to prepare for this match as for every other match, and nothing's going to change for me. So yeah, I'm just going to do my routines and stick to what I have been doing a week before."
Andreeva last played against an Ukrainian player last June, when she lost to Dayana Yastremska in Bad Homburg.
