Mirra Andreeva is a Roland Garros semi-finalist once again, having blasted past Sorana Cirstea earlier today in devastating fashion.
The way in which this Russian superstar has been silently carving through her draw has been admirable, but today arguably marked her best performance yet.
After all, the first set was over in a flash, with the 19-year-old having won by a 6-0 scoreline in under 20 minutes.
She faced more adversity in the second set, but even that, a 6-3 set, was no trouble.
Mirra Andreeva spoke on-court with a smile that went from ear to ear, as she outlined her delight at this performance, reviewed her progress as a player, and made one request to the French crowd.
Mirra Andreeva speaks after reaching the Roland Garros semi-finals
She began by focusing on Cirstea, admitting: “Yeah, when I last played against Sorana, it was an incredibly tough battle and every practice that we have is also very tough.
“We’ve practiced, I don’t know, ten times maybe this year already, so we know each other very well and I knew that this match would be easy, I knew that I would have to really put 100% of my intensity and of my focus today because she would use every opportunity that she would find a way to play aggressive and to pressure me today in the court.”
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So, to have bypassed the Romanian so easily naturally brought about some comfort: “So I’m just super happy that I was able to do it first and try and play aggressive thought the whole match.”
Andreeva has made a humorous habit of, after winning a title, straying from the usual thanking of her team and instead begun thanking herself.
She shared the origin of this tradition: “Well, I’ll be honest, at first when I said this speech, I just saw Snoop Dogg say it on, I don’t know, wherever when he was receiving an award. So for the first couple of times, I kind of stole it just to, you know, make a joke.
“But then after I kind of realised that it’s actually true. We also have to thank ourselves for the work that we do, and for how much we sacrifice and for how much we practice and for how much we work.
“So I felt like, you know, now it’s just what I want to tell myself for almost every time.”
She finished with a few words in French, pleading with the Roland Garros crowd to stay with her till the end.
Andreeva added: “Thanks for today, thank you very much. Even though you were here today for my match, I need your support for my next one. Please!”
Chris Evert worries for Mirra Andreeva for the rest of Roland Garros
Speaking live on TNT Sports’ broadcast, Chris Evert was delighted with what she had seen from Andreeva today.
As such, she showered the youngster with praise, but did conclude with a warning for her.
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After all, thus far at Roland Garros, Andreeva has been able to overpower her opponents. The same might not be said for Elina Svitolina or Marta Kostyuk, and certainly not Aryna Sabalenka should they meet in the final.
That is where Evert’s fear emerges from, as she claimed: “And the players that beat Andreeva are the Sabalenkas, you know, the Coco Gauffs, the Rybakinas. Players that overpower her.
“And Sorana couldn’t overpower her. So now it will be interesting. The next match or match or two.”
