WIMBLEDON, England — When 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva wanted some recommendation after dropping within the third spherical at her first main tennis event, she didn’t have go far.
Sure, her mother and father and coaches have performed big roles in serving to her turn out to be the newest teen sensation in tennis. But Andreeva is aware of herself higher than anybody else does, so the dialog after this 12 months’s French Open stayed inside.
“Honestly, after Paris I just had quite a long talk with myself, just me and myself, and that’s it. I talked to myself. I just talked,” Andreeva mentioned. “I don’t know, just in my head I realized some things. I took some decisions that I think are now important for me.”
In her second main event, Andreeva has already accomplished one higher, advancing to the fourth spherical at Wimbledon following a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Twenty second-seeded Anastasia Potapova on No. 3 Court.
“I did a good job because now everything is working so far,” mentioned the Russian teen who trains in France. “Yes, I just talked with myself, and I decided everything what I have to do next. So far it’s working.”
Andreeva grew to become the youngest participant to achieve the fourth spherical at Wimbledon since Coco Gauff in 2019. She will subsequent face will No. 25 Madison Keys for a spot within the quarterfinals.
PHOTOS: Russian teen Mirra Andreeva helps herself at Wimbledon in reaching fourth spherical
Pretty heavy stuff for a teen who’s being touted as a possible celebrity on the tennis circuit.
“Actually, I think I’m just a normal teenager, like normal girl. I do, I think, everything that the girls my age do. I love to watch some series. I have to do my school. I have no choice. I have to suffer for two more years, and that’s it,” Andreeva mentioned, smiling at that final half. “Sometimes it depends on my mood, but sometimes I prefer to be alone, just with myself, yes.”
For such a younger participant, her maturity got here via on courtroom. After profitable the primary set on Sunday, she discovered herself trailing 4-1 within the second. Keeping her cool, she was in a position to regroup and take again management.
“Today, honestly, even if I wanted to show some emotions, I honestly, I couldn’t because I was out of breath almost every point,” Andreeva mentioned in an on-court interview. “I really couldn’t show any emotions.”
They got here out after, although, when she sat in her chair and pulled her purple Wimbledon towel up over her face for a couple of seconds to regain her composure.
The strain on the oldest Grand Slam event will solely intensify. After six straight victories in her solely six instances enjoying on grass – three in qualifying and three in the principle draw – Andreeva is now seeking to emulate 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu and turn out to be solely the second qualifier in historical past to win a significant event.
“Of course, in 2021 she did amazing job. Everyone was impressed,” Andreeva mentioned of Raducanu, a British participant who’s lacking Wimbledon this 12 months due to accidents. “But me, I just try to not think about it. I think it will disturb me, all these thoughts. I just try to play every match and don’t think how far I have gone already or which round I’m playing, against who I’m playing.”
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