Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva excited for Indian Wells title defence

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a] toppled ‌world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] in last year's final ‌in Southern California for back-to-back WTA 1000 titles after her ‌triumph in Dubai, but struggled to find similar form ‌thereafter as she navigated the demands of her breakthrough season.[/p][p]The search for consistency continued after the 18-year-old won the Adelaide crown ‌at the start of 2026 before a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/anisimova-a-nwkutKbi/?mid=dMRwKQV6"]⁠run to the quarter-finals ‌in Dubai[/a], where she embraced the added scrutiny that comes with ​past success.[/p][p][b]"I was worried about defending points in Dubai since Roland Garros,"[/b] Andreeva told reporters on ​Wednesday.[/p][embed guid="bd9c45d3-77e0-40eb-a5f3-ac9f4a80f85a" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2029420505003114975" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I was thinking about it a lot, but when I came to Dubai the only thing I felt was ⁠the excitement of ​being there again, feeling new emotions at the tournament as defending champion.[/b][/p][p][b]"It was all new to me but I didn't feel the pressure for some reason as I thought ‌I would. And here it's the same thing. I'm just so excited to be here as a defending champion, to see my photos almost everywhere.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's just nice to be here again and now I don't feel any pressure defending points."[/b][/p][p]Andreeva, who also beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] en route to winning the Indian Wells title, said she is better equipped to handle drop-offs ‌in form.[/p][p][b]"I was just struggling to play and use ​that level in all the tournaments that I played,"[/b] ‌she added.[/p][p][b]"It was a bit on and off, which was a new experience for me. But now if that happens again, I know how to deal with it."[/b][/p][p]Eighth seed Andreeva has a bye into the ⁠second round where she ⁠faces either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stearns-peyton/YsJXLo1O/"]Peyton Stearns[/a] ‌or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sierra-solana/E5xrmfn5/"]Solana Sierra[/a].[/p]