Published6 June 2024, 13:02
Mirra Andrejewa: 17-year-old tennis sensation makes history at Roland Garros
Mirra Andreyeva is the first teenager since the Swiss Martina Hingis to reach a Grand Slam semi-final. The Russian stunned with her statements in an on-court interview.
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Mirra Andreyeva (WTA 38) is in the semifinals of the French Open.
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The 17-year-old Russian defeated world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
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The last time a Swiss woman was among the last four of a Grand Slam was in 1996, when Martina Hingis.
“My coach and I had a match plan, but I completely forgot it. I just play how I want. I have no plan,” said Mirra Andrejewa (WTA 38) after her sensational victory against Aryna Sabalenka (WTA 2). At 17, the Russian is the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Martina Hingis.
The Swiss reached the last four at the US Open in 1996 as a 16-year-old. Now, 28 years later, Andrejewa is the first teenager to make it to the semifinals of a major tournament.
Success thanks to good intuition
However, she does not go into a match without a strategy, explained the rising star, and praised her coach Conchita Martínez: “She supports me really well and sometimes I can even remember a few pieces of information.” It is great to know that the Spaniard is at her side, Andrejewa continued. On the court, however, she often trusts her intuition.
“If I see an open spot on the court, I play there; if I feel my opponent is going to run there, I play behind her,” explained the 17-year-old, who is two wins away from her first Grand Slam title.
Experts delighted
Andreyeva has impressed the tennis world with her composed manner. “She said that she was nervous at the beginning, but you couldn’t tell that at all during the game,” Eurosport expert Mats Wilander praised the Russian. According to the Swede, she already seems very mature for a 17-year-old.
Wilander’s expert colleague Barbara Schett also likes the performance of the teenage sensation. “She was simply ice-cold on the court,” said the Austrian after the quarter-final. In the semi-finals of Roland Garros, Andrejewa will now face another surprise of the tournament, Jasmine Paolini (WTA 15).
At the age of 28, the Italian is among the last four of a major for the first time in her career. From Monday, she will also move into the top 10 of the world rankings. “I just hope I can perform at the same level and with the same cool head,” said Andrejewa before the duel against Paolini.
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2024-06-06 11:02:13
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