Mirra Andreeva knows better than most how loud the noise can get when a teenager starts winning matches on big stages, and this week in Brisbane, she offered a clear-eyed message to Australian prodigy Emerson Jones. Speaking candidly, Andreeva urged the 17-year-old to block out comparisons and expectations, stressing that success in tennis comes from building a personal path rather than chasing labels attached by others.
A Surge of Attention Places Emerson Jones in a Position Mirra Andreeva Knows All Too Well
Jones is experiencing a surge of attention similar to what Andreeva faced early in her own career. Jones has quickly become one of the most closely watched young players in Australian tennis. Her rise comes at a time when fans are eager for the next homegrown star, making comparisons almost unavoidable. Andreeva, just one year older, understands that pressure intimately after navigating it herself on the WTA Tour.
Asked about Jones during the Brisbane International, Andreeva addressed her directly when asked what advice she would offer. “I just think that if I had a chance to tell her something, maybe I would have said not to focus on whatever people say,” Andreeva said.
She acknowledged that external noise is unavoidable for young players, adding, “Because there’s going to be a lot of people that would say, ‘Oh, you’re going to be the next Sharapova or the next Ash Barty.’”
Andreeva then expanded on why those comparisons can be misleading. “You just have to focus that you are who you are, and you have your own career and you have your own path,” she said. Drawing a clear line between identities, she continued, “I’m Mirra Andreeva. She’s Emerson Jones.”
Andreeva even addressed the Ash Barty comparisons head-on, explaining why they miss the point. “She’s not going to be the next Ash Barty, because Ash Barty stopped her career. She’s not playing anymore,” she said. “She’s going to have her own career, and I think she should focus on making her own path in tennis.”
What Has Jones Already Accomplished on the Junior and Pro Circuits?
The context made Andreeva’s comments even more compelling. Jones has assembled an impressive résumé at a young age, debuting on the ITF junior circuit at 13 and collecting titles across continents. In September 2024, she climbed to World junior No. 1, becoming the first Australian since Jelena Dokic to top the ranking.
She reached her first junior Grand Slam final at the Australian Open that year and finished runner-up again at Wimbledon. Her 2025 season featured semifinal appearances at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as a Wimbledon quarterfinal, before she cracked the WTA top 150 in early 2026. This week in Brisbane, she added another milestone by defeating Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-3, then exiting against 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
MORE: Australian Teenager Emerson Jones Makes Her Position Clear on Comparisons to Former No. 1 and 3-Time Slam Champion
Andreeva, seeded sixth in the same event, backed up her words with her own performances, taking a bye into the second round and beating Olivia Gadecki 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach a third-round meeting with ninth seed Linda Noskova.
Andreeva’s perspective carries weight because of what she has already achieved. After making her WTA debut in 2022, she broke through at the 2023 French Open by reaching the third round as a 16-year-old qualifier. Her rise continued with a Roland Garros semifinal in 2024 and consistent second-week appearances at Majors.
She has since collected three WTA singles titles, including Indian Wells and Dubai in 2025 and Iași in 2024, alongside doubles success with Diana Shnaider. Those results pushed her to a career-high world No. 5 ranking in 2024 and established her as one of the tour’s most reliable young performers.
