Mirra Andreeva has been compared to Joao Fonseca after winning her maiden Grand Slam title.
Andreeva beat qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to win the French Open title at just 19 years old.
Although this is the first major title of her career, Andreeva is predicted to win many more and has been expected to do so since arriving on the WTA Tour at just 16 years old.
After watching her win the French Open, John McEnroe has made a comparison between Andreeva and Brazilian teenager Fonseca.
John McEnroe reacts to Mirra Andreeva winning Roland Garros
Although Fonseca is yet to win a Grand Slam title, like Andreeva, he has been predicted to achieve big things from early on in his career.
When speaking live on TNT Sports, McEnroe praised the relationship Andreeva has with her coach Conchita Martinez, as he stated his belief that she is now dealing better with these expectations and making improvements to her game.
“She’s been a little bit like Joao Fonseca, because she’s starting to figure it out,” said McEnroe. “She’s had, pressure seemed to struggle with it a bit for a while. But I think having Conchita Martinez around is hugely helpful and slowly but surely, you could see this getting closer and the cards fell her way.
“She could have been playing [Aryna] Sabalenka today. Instead, she’s playing a girl who’s come through the qualifiers. So, you know, there’s things that definitely fell her way, but she’s putting herself in these positions and it’s starting to pay off.
“She’s strong, getting stronger, fitter, mixing her game up well. She’s not that predictable either, so that’s also what’s making her so formidable.
“So, it doesn’t shock me that it happened, maybe a little bit sooner than I would have thought given some of the other players that have maybe been struggling with their confidence like [Iga] Swiatek. So the timing worked out beautifully for her.”
How many Grand Slams does Mirra Andreeva win in her career? 🏆
Where does Mirra Andreeva rank in the youngest Grand Slam champions ever?
Andreeva became a Grand Slam champion at 19 years and 38 days old, and has now put her name in the history books.
The Russian teenager is now the third youngest women’s Grand Slam champion since 2000, with Andreeva overtaking Coco Gauff in that position.
In the Open Era, Andreeva is positioned in 10th behind Emma Raducanu, with Martina Hingis the youngest, having won the 1997 Australian Open at just 16 years and 117 days old.
| Youngest WTA Grand Slam champions in the Open Era | Age when they won their first Grand Slam |
| Martina Hingis | 16 years, 117 days (Australian Open 1997) |
| Monica Seles | 16 years, 189 days (Roland Garros 1990) |
| Tracy Austin | 16 years, 270 days (US Open 1979) |
| Maria Sharapova | 17 years, 75 days (Wimbledon 2004) |
| Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 17 years, 174 days (Roland Garros 1989) |
| Serena Williams | 17 years, 350 days (US Open 1999) |
| Steffi Graf | 17 years, 357 days (Roland Garros 1987) |
| Hana Mandlikova | 18 years, 229 days (Australian Open 1980) |
| Emma Raducanu | 18 years, 302 days (US Open 2021) |
| Mirra Andreeva | 19 years, 38 days (Roland Garros 2026) |
Andreeva has already cemented her position in the history books, and she will now hope to back this up at Wimbledon.
After having a week off to recover, Andreeva is scheduled to play at both the Berlin Open and the Bad Homburg Open ahead of Wimbledon this year.
