By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Rising 17-year-old phenom Mirra Andreeva reached her first career major semifinal by upsetting No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Paris.
Photo credit: Mateo Villalba/Getty
The agony and the ecstasy.
Rising phenom Mirra Andreeva reached her first career major semifinal by upsetting No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. The agony and the ecstasy. For 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, a final winning lob sealed a major achievement in her young career.
For No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the day ended her recent win streak at the Grand Slams. Andreeva upset World No. 2 Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first ever career major semifinal.
More: Paolini Knocks Out Rybakina to Reach Paris Semifinals
With the loss, Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, saw her 23-set winning streak at the majors snapped after the nearly two and a half hour battle.
When the match ended, Andreeva at first didn’t seem to realize what she had done and looked ready to play yet another point. Only when the Paris crowd rose to applaud her did a big smile break out on the young Russian’s face. Andreeva, over the last year and half, has quickly made a name for herself as a rising talent to watch.
Yet, with this victory, it proves that the current World No. 38 may well be on the fast track to become an elite player in the WTA.
Sabalenka, who struggled physically for most of the match with an apparent stomach issue, appeared on the verge of gritting out the tough victory. Yet the credit has to go to Andreeva for holding her ground and not being overwhelmed by the whole moment.
When asked later by Mats Wilander how someone as young as herself can know the tactics she does, Andreeva herself said it’s just something that she knows how to do already.
“Honestly, I just. I don't know. I kind of see the game. I just play wherever I want. I don't even have a plan. So when I see. When I see an open space on the court, I try to play there or if I. I think that maybe she will run there and try to play behind her back or something like this. Yeah, me and my coach, we had a plan today, but. Again, I didn't remember anything, sorry.”
That drew a laugh from Andrea’s current coach, Conchita Martinez, who herself reached the Roland Garros final in 2000 as well winning Wimbledon in 1994.
For Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion often appeared on the verge of either winning the match or retiring completely at various stages. After a rocky start from both players, especially on their serves, Sabalenka soon powered her way to a 3-1 lead.
The 25-year-old Sabalenka, who defeated Andreeva earlier in the season in Madrid in straight sets, appeared poised to potentially overpower her younger opponent. Yet midway through the first set, Sabalenka often doubled over after points and looked to be suffering from a stomach ailment.
That required several visits from a trainer who gave Sabalenka medication for the issue. Andreeva took advantage and soon led 5-3.
With her coach Martinez telling her young charge to “keep moving her”, Andreeva looked ready to take the set. But Sabalenka, with tremendous resolve, forced her way back to 5-all.
Soon enough a tiebreak was needed. Both players kept things close until, Sabalenka, leading 5-4, clocked a huge swinging backhand winner punctuated by a loud yell.
Soon a clever drop shot from Sabalenka sealed the tight set 7-6(5).
Sabalenka earned a quick break to start the second set, but her advantage would be short lived. Andreeva broke back and appeared the steadier of the two players as Sabalenka again clutched at her stomach. Andreeva later broke Sabalenka at love to go up 4-2.
That prompted Sabalenka to launch a ball in frustration into the upper deck that earned her a few books from the fans. Later, Sabaleka sipped a can of cola in hopes of calming her stomach and her nerves. It seemed to do the trick as she bounced back to 4-all with a short, curling backhand winner.
Yet Andreeva would not waver in her own resolve.
She held serve and then forced Sabalenka to net a backhand on her second set point to force a decider. It also ended Sabalenka’s recent streak of 23 sets won at a major this year.
The final set was up for grabs right until the end. Andreeva continued to move Sabalenka all around the court in hopes of drawing an error. Sabalenka reverted back to her original plan of blasting winners as soon as she could. After driving down the line backhand winner to level at 2-all, Sabalenka exhorted the crowd to give her some energy. It seemed to help as Sabalenka then jumped out to a 0-40 lead in the next game. Andreeva, mad at herself for letting this happen, then dropped serve to give her opponent the break for 3-2.
Yet Andreeva wouldn’t fade away. The young phenom played a tremendous point from a losing position from the backcourt that forced Sabalenka away from the net. Andreeva finished it off with a great slice forehand drop shot to break back at 3-all.
Another tiebreak seemed on the cards when Sabalenka found herself serving down 4-5. Yet it was Andreeva who came up with several clutch winners to get to 30-all. Sabalenka fell behind a first match point when an attempted drop shot didn’t go over the net. Sabalenka saved that match point a trademark big serve followed up by a big forehand. Andreeva responded with a down the line backhand winner to give her a second match point.
She then proved too good on the final point as she lifted a perfect lob over Sabalenka that landed well in, giving her the satisfying if surprising 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Andreeva is now the youngest Roland Garros semifinalist since another phenom, Martina Hingis, did the same back in 1997.
Waiting for Andreeva in the final four will be another surprise winner in No. 12 seed Jasmine Paolini who knocked out No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina earlier in the day.
When asked about playing Paolini, Andreeva responded, “ “I played her in Madrid. It was a really tough match mental wise and game wise, so she plays really fast. She moves really fast, but she goes for it doesn't matter the situation nor the score, so I think it will be a little bit like today. So I will just try to play the same level and with the same cold head if I can say that and we'll see what will happen.”
If Andreeva does manage to keep her “cold” head, as she puts it, and plays with no plan, because if one plays that well, is really it needed, she could well be on her way to unlocking even more Grand Slam milestones very soon in her young career.