Mirra Andreeva defeated American Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals, though she initially didn't even realize the match had ended. The 18-year-old Russian stood momentarily confused until seeing her opponent at the net, only then grasping that she'd advanced to the final eight at the prestigious grass-court tournament.
"It was my first day on Wimbledon's Centre Court. Plus, I saw Roger and Mirka. I was very nervous," Andreeva admitted post-match, thanking Roger Federer and his wife for their presence.
The young tennis star has become the youngest quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 18 years – exactly matching the record set by Nicole Vaidisova in 2007, who also reached this stage at 18 years and 75 days old.
Andreeva didn't just impress with her racket skills but also entertained the crowd with her candid remarks. In a charming moment, she addressed Federer directly: "One of my dreams was to see you in real life." She even complimented Mirka Federer, telling the former tennis player and mother of four: "I must say you are very beautiful."
Interestingly, Andreeva trains under Conchita Martínez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion who also guided Garbiñe Muguruza to victory at the All England Club in 2017. The playful relationship between player and coach was evident when Andreeva jokingly mentioned their "revenge" regarding Martínez's participation in the legends' mixed doubles event.
"No, I won't coach Conchi, but I'll support her, as I should. Today I think I served better, she gave me good advice," Andreeva added more seriously.
Next up for the Russian prodigy? A quarterfinal clash with Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, who advanced by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(4), 6-4. Can Andreeva continue her remarkable run and match her 2024 Roland Garros semifinal appearance? The tennis world is certainly taking notice of this rising star.
