She’s funny, she’s confident, she can be a real tennis star!
Mirra Andreeva, just turned 16, is rocking the French Open in Paris! There she is after the 6:1, 6:2 against the French Diane Parry (20) in the 3rd round. And that at her first Grand Slam tournament ever. “Actually, I wanted to play here with the juniors, but then I managed to qualify,” she beams.
Just a few weeks ago, the Russian made her debut on the WTA tour in Madrid, where she made it straight into the round of 16, where she lost to world number two Aryna Sabalenka (25 / Belarus). Here in Paris she started the next triumphal march: Five games including qualification, without giving up a set.
Extremely unusual scene… Meaningful Bayern video appeared!
How does she see herself as a person? Andreeva: “My coach says I shouldn’t become a diva. He doesn’t like people like that. If I showed any signs, he would certainly say a few appropriate words to me. He tells me to stay humble. I just want to keep my feet on the ground. I want to be myself.” That means what exactly? “I hope I’m being nice. I take care of other people, that might be nice.”
It is not surprising that the “Big Three” play a special role in the life of the tennis teenager. Roger Federer (41), Rafael Nadal (36) and Novak Djokovic (36) – she can tell a story about all three.
Mirra Andreeva happily answered all questions, shone with quick wit and humor
Photo: Jean-Francois Badias/AP
And that too when it comes to career goals. “I know that Djokovic has 22 Grand Slam titles. I want 25 if that’s possible.” So he said and laughed mischievously.
But who is her role model? Even then, the answer is not straightforward. “Roger has always been my idol and always will be. But after Roland Garros 2022, when Rafa won for the 14th time, everything turned around in my head. No idea why. Now Rafa and Roger are number 1. Although, I don’t want to offend Novak. So all three are number 1.”
Rafael Nadal after his 14th victory in Paris. That changed a lot at Mirra Andreeva
Photo: Christophe Ena/dpa
“Erika started when she was 5 or 6, maybe even earlier, and since I’m her younger sister, I’ve always been on the pitch, maybe since I was 2,” says Mirra. “I picked up a few balls for a long time because I started very late, at the age of six.”
In the 3rd round on Saturday she has to face the American Coco Gauff (19). She has a similar path behind her, rocked Wimbledon at the age of 15, where she made it to the round of 16. “She is very nice. We trained once,” she says.
And who wins? “She plays very aggressively, but training and matches are two different things. I also play differently than I train. So we’ll see what happens and who plays better.”
