This Wednesday, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia shocked everyone by defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, ranked second in the world, and moving on to the Roland Garros semifinals.
With partials of 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, and 6-4, Mirra Andreeva ended the match in two sets to one in two hours and thirty-nine minutes.
A semi-finalist last season, Sabalenka struggled during the match, frequently complaining of stomach pains, which led her to seek medical attention twice for medication.
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The Belarusian started better and took a 2-0 lead in the first set, but her visible discomfort benefited Andreev, who won four consecutive games and forced the world number two to close the match only in a tie break.
Though the Russian tennis player lost the first game due to a break of serve, she quickly recovered and regained the advantage in the second set. Andreev maintained the balance until she broke Sabalenka’s serve with a 5-4 lead, tying the match.
In the decisive part, Sabalenka again took the lead, but Andreeva remained cool to turn around once again and seal the victory.
“I had a game plan, but I forgot it when I got to the court, so I did what I felt,” said the young Russian after the match. Since Switzerland Martina Hingis in the 1997 US Open, Andreev is the youngest tennis player to make it to a Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 17 years and 29 days.
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Jasmine Paolini and Mirra Andreeva will face each other for a place in the Roland Garros final this Thursday. On the same day, American Coco Gauff (3rd) and Polish Iga Swiatek (current champion and world no. 1) will compete in the other semifinal.
Concerning the battle with Paolini, Andreeva remarked, “I think it will be a game a little like today; I will have to play with the same state of mind.”
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