Mirra Andreeva was gracious in defeat after falling to Zheng Qinwen in the Beijing final, praising the Chinese star’s resurgence after a difficult year and predicting even better things to come.
“For sure today she played great,” 19-year-old Andreeva said after falling 7-5, 6-4. “She also mentioned, of course we all know, that she’s had a tough year. It’s also very nice to see her playing better and coming back.
“Yes, I think that she’s going to be raising her level even more soon.”
Andreeva also appreciated the kind words Zheng had offered during the trophy presentation, saying: “It was also very nice of her to say such a nice thing to me. So I really appreciate it of course.”
Rueing the Return
Still, the Russian was left to rue missed opportunities, particularly in the opening set, when she held three set points on return but couldn’t convert any of them.
Zheng saved the first with a strong serve down the T, followed by a plus-one shot that set up an overhead smash. On the second, at 4-5, 30-40, Zheng survived a lengthy rally after landing a second serve, eventually drawing a forehand error from Andreeva. The Chinese star erased the third with a perfectly executed backhand volley.
Andreeva felt there was little she could have done on the first and third opportunities, but wondered whether she should have been more aggressive on the second.
“I could have taken more risk,” she admitted. “I kind of went for it, but I still wanted it to be kind of safe. But I still thought it was a good return.”
Despite landing just 38 percent of her first serves, Zheng won 73 percent of those points and an impressive 64 percent behind her second serve. She also saved four of six break points, repeatedly finding answers when Andreeva threatened.
The Russian acknowledged that her own aggressive intentions on return often worked against her.
“I missed a lot of returns trying to go for it, trying to be more aggressive,” she said. “Sometimes it worked, but most of the time I just felt like, I don’t know, I wanted to go for it but couldn’t really find I guess the margin, couldn’t really find the rhythm, as well.”
For Andreeva, the disappointment will serve as another learning experience. She falls to 0-2 against the Chinese trailblazer, with both losses to Zheng coming in Beijing.
“Of course, if I look at that, if I try to bring that back, maybe I would do something different of course to try to change the outcome,” she said. “Now it is what it is. The only thing I can do is to try to do something different on the next match that I have.”
Andreeva falls to 50-16 in a season that saw her become the youngest Roland Garros champion since Monica Seles in 1992. She won an additional two titles this year, taking her career title to six. Though she was disappointed to lose the final, she did qualify for the WTA Finals for the first time during her run to the title round.
The Russian teen is the youngest player to win 50 WTA level matches in a single season since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009.
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