Former world No. 54, Natalia Vikhlyantseva, has shared her perspective on Mirra Andreeva`s loss to Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the Miami tournament. The match concluded with a score of 6-7(5), 6-2, 3-6 in favor of Anisimova.
According to Vikhlyantseva, Andreeva`s defeat to Anisimova is not considered a major upset, especially given Andreeva`s young age of 17. She highlighted the pride in Andreeva`s previous two victories at prestigious Masters-level events but acknowledged the inevitability of fatigue. Vikhlyantseva also pointed out Anisimova`s familiarity with Florida conditions and her recent emotional journey, including the loss of her father, suggesting that Anisimova`s Doha title win provided a significant boost.
Vikhlyantseva praised Andreeva`s strong first serve in the match and noted the impressive number of break points created – 16 throughout the game. While acknowledging Andreeva`s solid serve and return, she observed that Anisimova gained an advantage through aggressive shot-making and effective anticipation. Vikhlyantseva attributed this edge to Anisimova`s greater power and experience, which allowed her to anticipate Andreeva`s movements and disrupt her slice shots.
Despite the loss, Vikhlyantseva emphasized Andreeva`s resilience and consistent performance even under pressure, maintaining the quality of her serve and return. She noted that Anisimova appeared fresher and benefited from playing on familiar home courts. Vikhlyantseva concluded by expressing continued support for Andreeva, viewing her recent performances as valuable experience for her future development.
Rupert Hartwell 
Adrian Whitmore