Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva wins French Open to claim first Grand Slam
Andrew Dampf
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva was already a tennis phenomenon at the age of 15. At the age of 19, he is a grand slam champion.
Eighth-ranked Andreeva completed the series of 114th-ranked Polish Maja Chwalinska in the Roland-Garros final on Saturday with sets of 6-3, 6-2.
Andreeva became the youngest player to win the women’s singles title since 18-year-old Monica Seles, who competed at the French Open for the third consecutive time in 1992.
Chwalinska was trying to become the first qualifier to win the Roland-Garros title.
When Andreeva executed a backhand winner on the first match point, she fell to her knees to celebrate.
Alexander Zverev will end the wildest Grand Slam in recent memory when he faces Flavio Cobolli in the men’s final on Sunday.
Andreeva has been considered a Grand Slam contender since bursting onto the scene at the 2023 Madrid Open at the age of 15, where she became the third-youngest player to win a main draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament and reached the quarter-finals.
Recently, Andreeva had to play in neutral status and without her country’s flag due to the war with Ukraine.
When she beat Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals, her opponent refused to shake her hand, as has been the tradition for Ukrainian players to face Russians since the war began in 2022.
Andreeva has now gone one step further than her coach, Conchita Martinez, who lost the 2000 French Open final to Mary Pierce.
The final was played in mostly sunny weather, but the wind played a role in what was a first Grand Slam final for both players.
Chwalinska double-faulted on the opening point of the match but became the first player to hold serve in the fifth game.
But eventually Andreeva found a way to cut through the wind and find an answer to Chwalinska’s spin and drop shots.
There was a strong Polish presence in the court Philippe-Chatrier crowd.
When Chwalinska was introduced, fans held up red-and-white Polish flags and chanted her name “Ma-ja, Ma-ja”.
“Davai Mirra!” Andreeva received little support from the crowd. – “Go Mirra” – Russian at the end of the match.
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