Mirra Andreeva may have missed out on a third WTA 1000 title this season, but the young Russian is already turning that Madrid Open final loss into fuel for a new winning mindset. Falling 6-3, 7-5 to an in-form Marta Kostyuk, Andreeva watched the Ukrainian claim her first WTA 1000 trophy—but the defeat has sparked a shift in perspective that could define her career.

In her post-match reflections, Andreeva opened up about how her approach to the game has evolved. "The way I approach matches has changed a lot," she said. "When I played Aryna Sabalenka in my first Madrid tournament, I was just trying to enjoy the atmosphere. I wasn't expecting anything from myself. I played like every match was my last."

That carefree attitude helped her surprise everyone—including herself—but now the stakes are higher. "I know how well I can play, and everyone else knows it too," Andreeva admitted. "Now it's about keeping that level every time I step on court and finding consistency."

While her singles campaign in Madrid has ended, Andreeva isn't packing her bags just yet. She's still alive in the doubles draw, partnering with Diana Shnaider to face Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova. "Today is a hard day, but overall, we can take a lot of positives from this week," she said. "The tournament isn't over, so I'm going to give it everything in doubles tomorrow."

For a player who has already matched rare achievements in Madrid—becoming the first in over 20 years to reach a certain milestone—this loss might just be the reset she needed. Whether it's singles or doubles, Andreeva's new outlook suggests her best tennis is still ahead.