PARIS — The historical past of tennis is stuffed with gamers who have been anticipated to be nice gamers however fell brief. The stress, accidents, and expectations are sometimes an excessive amount of to deal with.
The hype machine began early for Mira Andreeva. A junior finalist on the 2023 Australian Open at simply 15 years previous, she burst onto the scene when she reached the third spherical at Roland Garros that 12 months, and made some fairly daring statements within the course of.
Requested about her aim for the French Open in 2023, she mentioned, “I do know Djokovic has received 23 Grand Slams, so I want to go till I am 25 if potential.”
It was a joke, after all, however an early signal of the persona that has helped her deal with the inevitable consideration she receives ever since. He reached the fourth spherical at Wimbledon that summer time and captivated media around the globe together with his humorousness.
“At first it is at all times like, oh my gosh, wow, individuals are recognizing me everywhere,” she mentioned Saturday. “I am right here on social media and the web, and everybody is aware of about me. However on the similar time, in some unspecified time in the future, I even wish to step away from social media and fully overlook that each one that stuff exists. … However I would not say it bothered me that a lot. I will be trustworthy. I like the eye.”
Andreeva is the youngest participant to win the French Open girls’s title since Monica Seles in 1992. She can also be the primary Russian athlete to win Roland Garros since Maria Sharapova received the second of her two crowns in Paris in 2014. Sharapova, who grew to become Wimbledon champion on the age of 17, has been within the public eye all through her profession, and Andreeva, who was solely seven years previous on the time, recollects the second:
Pleasure from Mila and her workforce 🥹 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/guPR7cIzyB
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2026
“I bear in mind her profitable right here,” she mentioned Saturday. “Clearly, she performed nice on clay and received twice. I knew she was right here in Paris as effectively (this 12 months with sponsorship commitments), so I used to be hopeful — I do not know if she was watching the ultimate, however I hoped that she was watching. Clearly, I believed in my coronary heart that if she was watching, it could be actually nice to see some good tennis, some degree of fine tennis.”
Rising up in public isn’t simple, as Sharapova can attest to. It helped that Andreeva’s recreation was balanced from the second she joined the senior tour. As he grew taller, his serve improved month by month, and now it has change into a weapon. However her understanding of the sport, her tennis IQ, is what actually stands out.
Like her opponent in Saturday’s remaining, Andreeva is aware of how you can change the tempo, change her trajectory, combine issues up and make her opponent uncomfortable. In some methods, she performs like former world primary Martina Hingis, profitable the ball early and forcing opponents out of their consolation zone.
His relationship with Conchita Martinez additionally helped. The previous Wimbledon champion began working with Andreeva in April 2024 and the 2 hit it off instantly. Talking over champagne at Roland Garros on Saturday, Martinez acknowledged that there have been occasions when Andreeva’s perspective was lower than par, however praised how open she was to concepts and the way exhausting she was keen to work.
“Regardless that I received right here at Roland Garros, I nonetheless have a protracted technique to go and I’ve to continue learning,” mentioned Martinez, who’s at all times a chilled affect off the court docket. “I knew that to ensure that her to win large, issues needed to change. I doubted her at occasions. However I applaud her for being keen to vary issues, staying open, and persevering with to work exhausting. When she works exhausting, you see her potential unfold. She’s a pure. She’s an awesome participant.”
Andreeva typically struggled to manage her feelings, throwing her racket, swatting the ball away in anger, and even hitting herself with the racket. However her work with Alexis Castori, the sports activities psychologist who helped Andy Murray ultimately win his first Grand Slam title, has paid off astoundingly.
“I really feel like I have been in a position to deal with my nerves somewhat bit higher within the final two weeks,” Andreeva mentioned Saturday. “I truly consulted a psychologist earlier than the semi-finals and the ultimate as a result of I needed to be in the best state of mind earlier than what is perhaps crucial match of my life. I needed to organize as finest I might.
“She gave me numerous recommendation and numerous strategies. She tried all of that on the court docket and helped me expertise all of this higher and simpler. That is why I believe she deserves numerous credit score on this regard.”
Whether or not you are 19 or 39, maturity is essential in sports activities. Profitable a significant title on the age of 19 is uncommon, and all eyes will likely be on Andreeva heading into Wimbledon. All proof thus far signifies she is going to cope effectively.
