At the age of 16, Mirra Andreeva has her goals set. She wants to play until she wins at least 25 Majors.
Russia’s Andreeva is the latest teenage star in women’s tennis. She is the youngest player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon since Coco Gauff, then 15, made the round of 16 at SW19 four years ago. Like the American, Andreeva too began her campaign from the qualifying round. But this is not where Andreeva’s story has begun.
Andreeva, who was born in the Russian town of Krasnoyarsk but stays in France’s Cannes, made her Tour-level debut at the WTA250 event in Monastir, Tunisia, last year as a wildcard where she lost 3-6, 7-6(4), 3-6 to compatriot Anastasia Potapova in the opening round.
In 2023, she reached the final of the junior Australian Open, going down to another compatriot Alina Korneeva 7-6(2), 4-6, 5-7 in a three hour and 18 minutes long duel. The loss left Andreeva in tears. Korneeva said, “I want to congratulate Mirra with this amazing week, amazing battle and it’s not our last battle, we will have a lot of good matches.”
While both Andreeva and Korneeva played senior events on the ITF circuit post Australia, the former had another shot at Tour-level tennis when she received a wildcard for the Madrid Masters. This is where she showed her true potential.
Andreeva knocked out 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in straight sets in the opening round. Beatriz Haddad Maia and Magda Linette, two players who are Grand Slam semifinalists, too went down to the 15-year-old in the same manner.
“I’m not really surprised with my level, because I know the way I can play on the court. But, of course, I didn’t expect to be here and go this far,” said the Russian after beating Linette on her 16th birthday.
Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka finally stopped the junior Australian Open finalist’s dream run in the fourth round but, by then, the statement had been made — Andreeva had beaten three Top-40 players in a week and become the youngest player ever to reach the last 16 of a WTA1000 event.
“Mirra, she’s super young and has a big future for her. I remember when I was here as a 15-year-old, she has a lot to look forward to.”Coco Gauff after beating Andreeva in the French Open
Therefore, it wasn’t really a surprise when Andreeva entered the senior French Open at Roland-Garros this year and cruised through the qualifying round. Fellow-teen Gauff, the 2022 runner-up, ended the Russian’s run at the clay Major…
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