By Trevor Stynes
HT Picture
Could 21 – Mirra Andreeva shall be seeking to construct on her wonderful season when she arrives at Roland Garros and the Russian teenager has the psychological power and perspective wanted to upset the highest gamers once more at this yr’s French Open.
Final yr, Andreeva was the one unseeded participant to succeed in the quarter-finals, however comes into this yr’s event ranked sixth on this planet as she appears to at the least match her 2024 semi-final look.
Andreeva, who turned 18 final month, grew to become the youngest participant to seize a WTA 1000 title along with her Dubai win in February, beating three Grand Slam champions Marketa Vondrousova, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina alongside the best way.
After profitable her first, Andreeva received back-to-back WTA 1000 crowns along with her Indian Wells triumph the next month, beating world primary Aryna Sabalenka within the remaining having dispatched quantity two Swiatek within the semis.
Since partnering with coach Conchita Martinez a yr in the past, Andreeva’s profession has actually taken off, and even the Spanish former Wimbledon champion has been stunned by the Russian’s rise.
“Winning Dubai and winning Indian Wells, that was a little bit… I don’t know, I don’t want to say she couldn’t do it, but it was a progress and all of a sudden it just went like a sky rocket,” Martinez stated.
“She’s getting stronger and now I feel like she of course can compete with the big girls. That’s probably the progress that does surprise me more.”
Within the clay season, Andreeva has reached the quarter-finals of each the Madrid and Italian Open quarter-finals, dropping to Coco Gauff on every event, however that marks an enchancment on her French Open preparations 12 months in the past.
Andreeva went out within the opening spherical in Rome final yr, however adopted up along with her march to the semis in Paris, beating Sabalenka on the best way, and shall be a participant most will wish to keep away from within the draw.
Alongside along with her mobility and court docket consciousness, her psychological power, self-discipline and fearlessness belie her age, and Andreeva has proven she has what it takes to go toe to toe with the largest names in tennis, and are available out on prime.
She had misplaced to Sabalenka twice this yr earlier than their assembly within the Indian Wells decider and regardless of dropping the opening set, Andreeva battled again to down the world’s prime participant.
“I would like to thank myself for fighting until the end and for always believing in me and for never quitting,” Andreeva stated.
Andreeva goes into the French Open much more assured than final yr, and with three-times defending champion Iga Swiatek struggling for kind, the Russian’s first Grand Slam crown appears inside attain.