Mirra Andreeva made history on Wednesday when she defeated professional tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the open French to become the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist in almost 30 years.
Andreeva, a 17-year-old unseeded Russian player, won the match 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, and she did so off script.
Mirra Andreeva of Russia in action against Aryna Sabalenka of Russia in the women's singles quarterfinals at Roland Garros on June 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
“I always play the way I want. We have a plan with my coach for the game, but then I forget everything and when I play a game I don't have any thoughts in my head,” he said. After the match.
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“So maybe I would say my strength might be that I just play how I want and do what I want to do.”
His unapologetic approach to the game has paid off. Andreeva, who turned 17 in April, is now the youngest player to reach the semifinals at any grand slam since Martina Hingis did it in 1997 at the age of 16.
That year, Hingis won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and was a finalist at the French Open.
Mirra Andreeva celebrates after winning match point against Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles quarterfinal match on day 11 at Roland Garros on June 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Quality Sports Images/Getty Images)
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Andreeva is playing in only her sixth major tournament. She will next face Italian Jasmine Paolini, a 28-year-old player who also reached her first major semi-final.
But deep down, Andreeva is a lot like any other teenager.
“I would say I'm almost like a normal teenager, because I still have to go to school, which I don't like. I watch a lot of TV series in my free time. I watch Netflix. Sometimes I spend too much time on my Instagram,” he said. . “But maybe what makes me a little different is that I don't know if I can say I'm mature, but I feel like a mature person and I feel like I know what I'm doing.”
Mirra Andreeva speaks to the media after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals on day 11 of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
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Andreeva and Paolini will face each other on Thursday morning. Earlier in the day, women's world number one Iga Swiatek will face Coco Gauff.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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