"Players should stop spreading misinformation";"Fire her team": Fans react as Mirra Andreeva clarifies visa claims after losing out on WTA Finals spot

Fans slammed those who spread misinformation about Mirra Andreeva’s participation in Tokyo, clarifying that the Russian did not compete due to a team decision and not visa issues. Amid this, fans also pointed out that Jasmine Paolini was similarly misunderstood, as she qualified for the WTA Finals despite missing mandatory WTA 500 tournaments.

Mirra Andreeva broke into the top five after her Wimbledon campaign, where she reached the quarterfinals. However, she couldn't replicate her feat at the US Open, and also had early exits from every Asian hard-court tournament. After that, she withdrew from the Tokyo Open, and Australian player Ellen Perez was the first to reveal that she would sit out due to visa issues.

On the other hand, Jasmine Paolini, who missed competing at the Adelaide International due to medical issues, qualified for the WTA Finals as she was exempted by the WTA rule for participating in promotional activities. That helped her trounce Andreeva in points, garnering criticisms from tennis fans.

Now, when the real reason has emerged, fans called out Perez for her journalism, turned sympathetic towards Paolini, and criticised Andreeva's team for such a scheduling decision.

One fan suggested that her whole team, commenting:

"Fire her whole team that’s so stupid"

Another fan spoke in the same line, reasoning that the scheduling was wrong.

"The visa thing at least would've made sense, but its just a bizarre scheduling decision. Yes it's only her 2nd year on Tour so they'll learn, but Conchita Martinez has been there and done that, surprised she didn't know better. Schedule the event and pull out if you don't need it."

Another fan turned compassionate towards Italian player Paolini and wrote:

"Paolini has been disrespected so much on tennis twitter because of this. I hope she changes the story soon…trust my girl to."

Here are some other reactions:

"Ellen Perez equally bad at tennis and journalism it seems," a fan tweeted. "Now maybe people will stop saying Paolini scammed the qualification. Y'all talk too much while not knowing shit," a fan commented. "Maybe players, especially those on the Players' Council should stop spreading misinformation about fellow players...." wrote a fan.

Mirra Andreeva revealed her year-end Championship plans going forward

Mirra Andreeva at the 2025 China Open - Day 10 (ATP Finals) - Source: Getty

Though Mirra Andreeva missed the chance to compete in the women’s singles, she began her year-end championship doubles campaign with her partner, Diana Shnaider. Amid the misunderstandings and confusion, the Russian made her feelings known about how she would approach the WTA Finals next time onwards.

"Yes if I get a chance to qualify for next year's (WTA) Finals, I will do everything that I can not to think about qualifying for the WTA Finals. So I'm just going to try to focus on every match that I get to play and that's it. Not thinking about qualifying for the (WTA) Finals," she said.

Mirra Andreeva was a semifinalist at the 2024 French Open and won three WTA singles titles in her career.

Edited by Agnijeeta Majumder