By Carolyn Coene
PARIS : Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva celebrates how she finally overcame "so many demons inside" after becoming a Grand Slam champion at just 19 years old. Born in Siberia, Andreeva later moved to Sochi and eventually France to further develop her tennis career. After a major breakthrough at age 15, she reached another milestone when she defeated 114th-ranked Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open final on Saturday.
“I’ve done a lot of visualizations before. Not just this tournament, but I’ve had dreams, I’ve had a lot of thoughts on how it’s going to happen, if it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen, where,” Andreeva said, still hardly breathing as she talked quickly in true teenage style. “The feeling in real life is so much better than in your dreams."
A New Era at Roland Garros
“I can call myself a Grand Slam champion,” Andreeva added. However, like many athletes in the spotlight, Andreeva's biggest challenges have not come on the court. She already has one of the best attacking baseline games in the sport and has spent years working through the mental pressures that come with being a teenage tennis sensation.
“Her attitude is difficult,” said Conchita Martinez, Andreeva’s coach and a former Wimbledon champion. “You tell her something, and maybe she’s not open to listening. … When she works hard and when she listens and she does everything, she has no limits.”
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Andreeva recognized those challenges during the trophy ceremony. “I know I can be a tough cookie sometimes and it’s pretty hard to put up with me,” Andreeva said. The victory put Andreeva one step above Martinez, who lost to Mary Pierce during the 2000 French Open final. Pierce presented the winner’s trophy to Andreeva.
The Russian became the youngest woman to win the French Open since Monica Seles captured her third consecutive title in 1992 at age 18. “You’re so young and talented. It’s so annoying,” the 24-year-old Chwalinska told Andreeva.
During the trophy ceremony, Andreeva also took a moment to recognize her own perseverance. In fact, Andreeva made a point to thank herself “for believing in myself, always giving my 100%, even when it’s tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside of me. Only I know how tough it was for me,” Andreeva added. “How nervous I was throughout these two weeks.”
Mental Fortitude and Global Context
Andreeva also acknowledged her psychologist, who she said was watching from Florida. “Everything that you’ve told me I’ve been trying to use these two weeks.” Andreeva has been considered a Grand Slam contender since her breakout performance at the 2023 Madrid Open at just 15 years old. She became the third-youngest player to win a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 event and advanced all the way to the quarterfinals.
Lately, Andreeva has had to compete under neutral status without representing Russia's flag due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. When she defeated Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals, Kostyuk refused to shake her hand, continuing a practice many Ukrainian players have adopted when facing Russian opponents since 2022. “Every person doesn’t want to have a war in the world,” Andreeva said. “I never think about those things when I play.”
Dominance on the Clay
On the court, Andreeva proved why she is one of the sport's brightest young stars. Although Chwalinska briefly led 3-2 in the opening set, Andreeva quickly took over and won nine consecutive games. She adjusted well to the windy conditions and confidently handled Chwalinska's combination of spins and drop shots. While Chwalinska would retreat to handle high balls in the wind, Andreeva stepped forward and took the ball early, keeping her opponent under pressure.
“She definitely handled wind much better than me,” Chwalinska said. “She was not running away from the ball.”
The statistics reflected Andreeva's determination. She finished with 25 winners compared to Chwalinska’s 10 and also had fewer unforced errors: 26 to 29.
Despite a large Polish presence in the crowd, Andreeva remained focused throughout the match. Fans waved red-and-white Polish flags and repeatedly chanted Chwalinska's name, though Andreeva received some support late in the match when a fan shouted, “Davai, Mirra!” (“Go, Mirra!”) in Russian.
With her first Grand Slam title secured, Andreeva has established herself among the sport's most elite players. After years of unwavering dedication and continued mental growth, the 19-year-old leaves Paris as a champion and one of the most skilled young players in tennis.
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