13-game winning streak ended! A Miami showdown between old and new talented girls

On March 24, 2025, the third round of the women's singles in Miami WTA1000 staged an iconic matchup: 17-year-old Russian rising star Mila Andreeva faced 23-year-old American Amanda Anisimova across the net. In the end, Anisimova ended Andreyeva's 13-match winning streak with a score of 7-6(5) 2-6 6-3 to advance to the round of 16 and push the two talented teenage girls into a new chapter in their career trajectories. Although there were some hiccups on both sides due to injuries, this did not prevent the excitement and topicality of the game, and this victory was not only a technical and tactical victory, but also a narrative about mental toughness, family inheritance and self-redemption.

Andreyeva's career is like a "crash course to genius". At the beginning of the 2025 season, the 17-year-old Russian girl swept the Middle East and North America with a devastating victory: in Dubai, she defeated Rybakina and Swiatek in succession; Indian Wells defeated Rybakina and Swiatek, as well as Sabalenka, to win two back-to-back WTA1000 titles, becoming the youngest chaser in history to win three consecutive 1000 races. Her style of play is both powerful and delicate, and her ability to hold on to the bottom line is particularly prominent, and she is regarded as a representative of the new generation of "all-round players".

However, the defeat in Miami exposed Andreyeva's shortcomings – her mental swings in the face of adversity. In the first tie-break, her mistake on a crucial point allowed Anisimova to seize the opportunity; In the deciding set, he was reversed by his opponent breaking serve when he was leading 3-1. Although her technical statistics showed that her unforced errors were better in control and serve quality than her opponents, she was significantly less capable of securing break points than her opponents. The loss could be an important lesson in her career: how to stay consistent under high pressure is the path to superstardom.

Unlike Andreyeva's "smoothness", Anisimova's career has always been accompanied by "adversity". In 2019, at the age of 17, she was forced to withdraw from the US Open due to the sudden death of her father and coach Konstantin from a sudden heart attack, and fell into a psychological depression that lasted for several years. Anisimova lost her way as a visionary of her father, who was not only her tennis initiator, but also the planner of her career: "I felt like the world was falling apart and I wanted to give up tennis. However, the "post-00" player has shown remarkable resilience. In 2024, she won her first career WTA1000 title in Doha; In Miami 2025, she proved that she had stepped out of the shadows by beating Andreeva with her trademark "small steel cannon" stroke. Her style of play is known for her explosiveness, and her strong baseline attack and precise landing control have become the winning weapons. The technical stats showed that she had scored 34 winning points and saved 12 of her 16 break points, with a particularly significant improvement in her mental quality.

Although Anisimova represented the United States, her Russian immigrant background (her parents immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1998) added a "civil war" flavor to the game. The growth trajectories of the two players reflect two different tennis cultures: Andreeva continues the rigorous training system of the Russian "academy", while Anisimova combines the aggression of American tennis with the delicacy of Russian technique. This difference was evident in the match, where Andreeva tried to wear down her opponent with a steady baseline, while Anisimova relied on serve and steal to break the balance. In addition, both of them are saddled with the label of "genius girls". Andreeva broke a number of "youngest records" at the age of 17, while Anisimova reached the semi-finals at the 2019 French Open at the age of 17 and became the most high-profile rising star at the time. This matchup is not only a contest of skills, but also a breakthrough and inheritance of two geniuses: Andreyeva's rise is a testament to the renewal of women's tennis, while Anisimova's resurgence is a symbol of the veteran's perseverance and rebirth.

The victory in Miami was a boost to Anisimova's career. Her technical characteristics and improved mental state give her the potential to impact higher achievements. If she stays healthy, Anisimova is expected to win the US Open or Australian Open in the 2025-2026 season, and even become another representative American player with both strength and skill after Serena Williams.

The story of Anisimova and Andreeva goes beyond victory and defeat itself. The former was reborn from a family tragedy, while the latter suffered growing pains in the myth of a winning streak, and the career trajectories of the two men together illustrate the cruelty and charm of competitive sports. For Anisimova, tennis is not only a profession, but also a spiritual bond with her father; For Andreyeva, defeat may be a necessary step to the top. In the future, the rivalry between these two talented girls could define the new landscape of women's tennis, and their stories will inspire more people to find light in the face of adversity.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Xiaodi)