Former World Number One Dinara Safina Questions Mirra Andreeva’s Professionalism Following Miami Open Meltdown

Former world No. 1 Dinara Safina questions Mirra Andreeva’s mindset after the teenager’s 6-0 third set collapse against Victoria Mboko in Miami.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 7:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

A Sudden Technical And Emotional Collapse

The fourth round of the 2026 Miami Open concluded in frustrating fashion for Mirra Andreeva, who fell to her close friend and tenth seed Victoria Mboko in a puzzling three set match. After battling back to take the second set and force a decider, the eighteen year old Russian completely lost her momentum, eventually conceding the match with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 scoreline. The final set was particularly alarming to observers, as Andreeva appeared to vanish competitively, failing to win a single game despite having the physical advantage of a successful service break just moments prior.

Allegations Of Intentional Errors On Court

Dinara Safina, a former world number one and compatriot of Andreeva, provided a blunt assessment of the performance during a recent podcast appearance. Safina noted that while mistakes in tennis are often technical, Andreeva’s errors in the final set appeared to be driven by a desire to signal frustration toward her coaching box. According to Safina, the teenager seemed to be making mistakes on purpose as if to spitefully demonstrate her lack of control or to challenge the expectations placed upon her by her team and the wider sporting public.

Struggling To Match The Heights Of A Breakout Year

This latest defeat underscores a difficult start to the 2026 season for Andreeva, who has struggled to replicate the form that saw her reach world number five last summer. While she secured a title in Adelaide this January, her subsequent performances at the Australian Open and during the Middle East swing have been characterized by early exits and visible emotional volatility. Critics have pointed out that since her back to back quarter final appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2025, her progress has seemingly plateaued, leading to concerns regarding her long term developmental trajectory.