In a stunning upset at the Australian Open, 16-year-old tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva secured her first career top-10 victory by defeating No. 6 seed Ons Jabeur with a commanding score of 6-0, 6-2. The young Russian, now ranked 47th in the world, fulfilled a dream by playing against her idol, Jabeur, and emerged victorious on the prestigious Rod Laver Arena.
Andreeva’s admiration for Jabeur’s style of play and sportsmanship fueled her ambition to face the three-time Grand Slam finalist. The significance of the win was not lost on Andreeva, who expressed, “It was one of my dreams to play against her because I really like the way she plays. I’m inspired by her, so it means a lot. Today, it meant a lot, this match that I won.”
Despite acknowledging feeling nervous before the match, Andreeva displayed remarkable composure, dominating from start to finish. Her victory marks the third time she has reached the third round of a Grand Slam, having previously achieved this feat at the French Open and Wimbledon in the past year.
Andreeva’s swift and decisive triumph on the court included facing just one break point throughout the match, hitting 13 winners and committing only 10 unforced errors. At 16 years and 263 days, she became the youngest player in the Open era to claim a 6-0 opening set against a top-10 seed at a Grand Slam, according to the Australian Open.
Reflecting on her journey, Andreeva revealed overcoming a previous disappointment, stating, “Honestly, after I lost the final, I was just super upset. For maybe a week, I was just replaying the match in my head. Today, when I saw that I play on Rod Laver, I said that this time I have to take my chance and I have to win on the big court for the first time, and so I did.”
Andreeva’s next challenge in the third round will be against France’s Diane Parry, offering another opportunity to showcase her burgeoning talent and tenacity on the international stage. The young athlete’s remarkable rise continues to captivate the tennis world, setting the stage for an exciting future in the sport.
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