Tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva, fresh off her victory at Indian Wells where she pocketed a cool £869,000, has surprised fans with her first purchase. Rather than splurging on a luxury item, the teenage prodigy opted for a £76 (€90) Lego replica of the iconic Mona Lisa.
The Russian sporting starlet, only 17 years old, clinched her second Masters 1000 title in a thrilling two-set triumph over Aryna Sabalenka. Despite her professional success, Andreeva is still too young to manage her own finances. She has previously shared that her father oversees her earnings, a situation that could see a shift when she turns 18 on April 29th.
In a lively exchange with fellow Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina on the latter’s YouTube channel, What The Vlog, Andreeva revealed her quirky purchase. Responding to Kasatkina’s query about the size of the Lego set, Andreeva teased her with a picture of her new acquisition, leaving Kasatkina in bemused disbelief.
The question on everyone’s lips was: where did the rest of the prize money go? Andreeva’s victory in the Dubai Tennis Championships last month led her to a similar discussion about her finances. She candidly admitted that she does not have a personal bank account due to her age, and all her earnings are handled by her father.
Responding to the perennial question about her spending plans, the young champ chuckled, “All questions to my dad. It all goes on his credit card because I don’t have my own yet.” She jestingly hoped that her dad would allow her some pocket money for casual expenses, like a bag of chips or a Coke.
Andreeva’s Indian Wells victory propels her to the 6th spot in the WTA rankings, placing her in a prime spot for a strong run in the upcoming Grand Slam events. The teenager has previously made it to the quarter-finals of the French Open and with Roland Garros as the next major event, expectations are high.
Overwhelmed with emotion after her hard-fought win over Sabalenka, Andreeva struggled to find the words during her on-court interview. The rising star, whose total prize money now approaches £3,796,988, expressed gratitude towards herself for her tenacity and unwavering belief. She admitted, “I tried to run like a rabbit because Aryna was sending bullets [across the net] and it was hard.”
This rising star’s journey is a captivating blend of youthful exuberance, professional maturity, and a dash of the unexpected – much like her Lego Mona Lisa purchase. And with a credit to her name that’s closing in on £4 million, Andreeva can afford to indulge in a few more whimsical purchases if she so chooses.