By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Photo credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty
Before Mirra Andreeva blows out the candles on her 19th birthday cake tomorrow, she’ll make one wish.
To never grow up.
Today, Andreeva fought off three set points in the opening set sparking a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over Leylah Fernandez in Madrid.
The ninth-seeded Andreeva is the second-youngest Madrid semifinals in history—only Caroline Wozniacki was younger when reaching the final four back in 2009. Asked how she will celebrate her birthday tomorrow, Andreeva told the media in Madrid she has mixed emotions on advancing age.
“Okay, obviously I’m very excited for tomorrow, but at the same time I caught myself being a little bit sad,” Andreeva said. “Because I don’t want to be old, and I don’t want to grow up. I want to just stay 18 and be a kid all the time.
“I feel like, obviously lately, I just feel like time is going so fast, and I’m already going to turn 19. I don’t know. I just, I’m excited, but at the same time I’m sad. So that’s what I feel.”
Linz champion Andreeva improved to 11-1 on clay this season and will face either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or 30th-seeded American Hailey Baptiste for a spot in the final.
The 2025 Indian Wells champion Andreeva has endured some growing pains this season after her breakout year last season.
When Katerina Siniakova dethroned Andreeva in a wild 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 upset at Indian Wells last month, Andreeva lost her crown then lost her cool.
A tearful and irate Andreeva flung her racquet before the post-match handshake.
As the Stadium 1 crowd roared, Andreeva appeared to shout “F–k You All!” as she walked off the court.
Despite some emotional outbursts on court, Andreeva said she feels calmer off court.
“I don’t feel like I’m changing as a person very much. I feel like, maybe it’s going to sound weird, but I kind of became more calm outside of the court,” Andreeva said. “For example, before I would like to, even after matches, I would want to spend some time with my family to talk a lot or to do something together.
“Now all I want to do is to come back to the room and be alone and just do something with myself, I don’t know, read a book, watch TV series, just be on my phone, and I don’t want to talk to people. So maybe that’s how I’m changing. Other than that, I feel like I’m still the same Mirra that was here a couple of years ago and, yeah, for now I don’t notice a lot of changes.”
Chasing her third title of the year, Andreeva said she’ll be shopping for one birthday gift.
“For now, I want a pair of high heels,” Andreeva said. “That’s going to be it.”