Mirra Andreeva, a 17-year-old tennis sensation from Russia, has stunned the tennis world by advancing to the French Open women’s singles semifinals at Roland Garros. On Wednesday, Andreeva came back from a set down to upset the No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus with a score of 6-7(5), 6-4, and 6-4.
Andreeva’s remarkable achievement makes her the youngest player in over 25 years to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. She stands out as the only unseeded player among the final four competitors in this year’s French Open.
Throughout the tournament, Andreeva showcased her exceptional talent by defeating two seeded opponents. She overcame No. 19 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and delivered a remarkable performance against Sabalenka to secure her spot in the semifinals.
Reflecting on her approach to the game, Andreeva said, “I always play the way I want to play. We have a plan with my coach for the match, but after I forget everything, and when I play a match, I don’t have any thoughts in my head. So maybe I would say that my strength could be that I just play how I want to play and I do whatever I want to do.”
Looking ahead, Andreeva is set to face No. 14 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the semifinals on Thursday. Paolini advanced after defeating No. 4 Elena Rybakina of Russia with scores of 6-2, 4-6, and 6-4.
Tennis enthusiasts around the globe are eagerly anticipating the semifinal clash, as Andreeva’s unexpected journey continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Reference(s):
Unseeded Mirra Andreeva reaches French Open women's singles semis
cgtn.com
