On a vibrant Saturday at Roland Garros, May 31, 2025, the clay courts of Paris bore witness to the meteoric rise of 18-year-old Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva, who etched her name alongside tennis icons Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova with a breathtaking performance in the third round of the French Open. Facing Kazakhstan’s 32nd seed Yulia Putintseva on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Andreeva delivered a masterclass, securing a 6-3, 6-1 victory in just 78 minutes. This triumph marked her 30th win of the 2025 season, making her the youngest player since Sharapova in 2005 to achieve this milestone before the tournament’s conclusion, and the first teenager to do so since Victoria Azarenka in 2009.
Andreeva’s journey in Paris this year has been nothing short of sensational. The sixth seed, who reached the semifinals in 2024 at just 17, has yet to drop a set in her opening three matches, showcasing a blend of power, precision, and mental fortitude that belies her age. Her match against Putintseva was a display of dominance, with 27 winners to just 18 unforced errors, as she dictated play with her venomous backhand and improved serve. “When I was walking on court, a little girl put a drawing on my bench, and I kept it. It’s my lucky charm,” Andreeva said post-match, crediting a young fan’s colorful floral fabric patch for inspiring her performance. “Wherever that little girl is, I want to thank her because it is my lucky charm,” she added, her smile reflecting the charm that has endeared her to fans worldwide.
The Russian’s path to the fourth round mirrors the feats of legends. At 18 years and 26 days, Andreeva became the youngest woman since Hingis in 1997 to win 10 main-draw matches at Roland Garros, a milestone that underscores her precocious talent. Her 2025 season has been a breakout, with WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, where she became the youngest champion since the format’s inception in 2009. Victories over Grand Slam champions like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Marketa Vondrousova have cemented her as a title contender. “I don’t really feel the difference when it’s cold or hot,” Andreeva remarked about the chilly Parisian conditions, shrugging off environmental challenges with the same nonchalance she brings to high-pressure matches.
Her third-round clash wasn’t without its challenges. Putintseva, known for her crafty clay-court game, pushed Andreeva early, but the teenager’s ability to adapt mid-match—honed under the guidance of coach Conchita Martinez—proved decisive. “Conchita tells me sometimes, ‘Now it’s cold, so you have to do this, you have to do that,’” Andreeva said, highlighting the tactical adjustments that helped her overpower Putintseva’s defenses. Her earlier rounds were equally impressive: a comeback against Cristina Bucsa in the first round (6-4, 6-3) after trailing 4-2, and a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Ashlyn Krueger in the second, despite an early break against her.
Andreeva’s rise evokes memories of Hingis and Sharapova, both of whom dominated as teenagers. Like Hingis, who won the 1997 US Open at 16, Andreeva combines tactical acumen with fearless aggression. Her 2024 French Open semifinal run, where she stunned world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, marked her as the youngest player to defeat a top-two seed at a Grand Slam since Jelena Dokic in 1999. Though she fell to Jasmine Paolini in that semifinal, Andreeva’s 2025 form—boasting a 19-3 record and an Olympic doubles silver medal with Diana Shnaider—suggests she’s ready for another deep run.
As she prepares for a fourth-round showdown with 17th seed Daria Kasatkina, Andreeva faces a familiar foe. Their sole prior meeting, a three-set thriller at the 2024 Ningbo Open final, saw Kasatkina prevail, but Andreeva’s current momentum makes her the favorite. With a top-10 ranking and a 10-2 clay record this season, she’s no longer the underdog. “I’m more stable tennis-wise, mental-wise, game-wise,” Andreeva reflected, a nod to her growth since her Grand Slam debut in 2023, when she reached the third round as a qualifier.
The Roland Garros crowd, known for its passion, has embraced Andreeva’s youthful exuberance. Her ability to turn adversity—like the occasional boos during her 2024 match against Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva—into motivation (“It put the fire inside of me”) has only fueled her ascent. As she eyes a potential quarterfinal against Coco Gauff or Iga Swiatek, Andreeva’s blend of poise and power makes her a formidable threat. With Paris as her stage, the tennis world watches eagerly to see if this teenage sensation can claim her first Grand Slam title and etch her name further into history.
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