Mirra Andreeva has earned her first win over Sloane Stephens, defeating the former US Open champion in Linz. Andreeva advanced to the quarterfinals after a 6-4, 6-2 victory that lasted 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Andreeva Overcomes Stephens in Straight Sets
Mirra Andreeva wasn’t at her best in Linz, but it was enough to defeat Sloane Stephens. The 18-year-old secured a 6-4, 6-2 win in 1 hour and 21 minutes, reaching the quarterfinals.
“It was a tricky match,” Andreeva said. “Obviously, she’s a Grand Slam champion, so she’s got that experience. She knows what to do when things aren’t going her way. I’m just super happy that I got through this match.”
The victory over Stephens marks Andreeva’s 13th over a past Grand Slam singles champion at the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz level. It’s her first such victory since she beat Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the 2025 Indian Wells title.
Navigating a Tricky First Set
Andreeva looked set for a routine win, racing to a 5-1 lead as Stephens made errors. However, serving for the set, the momentum shifted. Andreeva struggled, allowing Stephens to win three straight games, closing the gap to 5-4.
“I felt like I didn’t really have the rhythm after 5-1 in the first set,” Andreeva said. “So I’m just super happy that I stayed calm, played my game and won the match.”
Andreeva closed out the opener on her fourth set point.
Securing the Win in Linz
She continued to search for her best level in the second set, finishing with 33 unforced errors to 13 winners. She found stability behind her first serve, winning 76% of those points (25 of 33) and facing just one break point.
The win marks her first over Stephens in their second career meeting. Stephens won their previous matchup in Cleveland in 2023, 6-3, 6-3.
This time, Andreeva returned the favour with a straight-sets win of her own.
Looking Ahead
Next for Andreeva is No. 5 seed Sorana Cirstea. They have yet to face one another at the WTA level.
A win would send Andreeva to her first semifinal since claiming the Adelaide title in January.