Shock entry: Mirra Andreeva and Alexandra Eala land WTA wildcards for Linz Open

Mirra Andreeva kicked off the 2026 season with a title run at the Adelaide International, but her form has tailed off over the past couple of months.

She’s now in danger of dropping out of the WTA top 10, with Belinda Bencic’s Charleston Open performance set to play a key role in where she stands next week.

Andreeva is still searching for ranking points heading into the clay court swing and has opted to take a last-minute wild card into an upcoming event in hopes of turning things around.

Andreeva accepts wild card entry to Linz Open

Mirra Andreeva has accepted a wild card for the Linz Open in Austria, just days before the tournament is set to begin.

The event, which has transitioned from an indoor hardcourt to an indoor clay court for the first time this year, features several notable names, including Alexandra Eala, Jelena Ostapenko and Katie Boulter.

Andreeva comes in as both the top seed and a wild card entrant. Despite her recent struggles, she remains one of the favourites given the relatively open field. She is one of just three top-20 players in attendance, joining Ekaterina Alexandrova and Clara Tauson.

The timing of her decision also helps fill the void left by Emma Raducanu’s recent withdrawal. Andreeva adds some much-needed star power to an event that’s looking to build momentum with its new format.

Whether she can take advantage of this opportunity remains to be seen. But given the current lineup and her position as top seed, it’s a chance she’ll need to make count.

Mirra Andreeva’s track record on clay courts

Andreeva has quietly built up an impressive reputation on clay, which might come as a surprise to those more familiar with her hardcourt success.

The Russian star posted a 73% win rate on the surface over her career, even though it was her results on faster surfaces that brought her into the spotlight in 2025.

That stretch of form helped her claim her first title at the Iași Open in 2024, where she won the trophy without dropping a set.

She also recorded a notable upset over Aryna Sabalenka during her run to the Roland Garros semi-finals that same year.

If she carries that form into this season, it could provide exactly the kind of ranking boost she’s looking for right now.

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