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While the Olympic Games is in the thoughts of many, Mirra Andreeva continues to get her preparation in not at the Olympic Village but at the Iasi Open in Romania making her first tour-level final.
Andreeva though did not have it easy as she took down Olga Danilovic who starred like the Russian at Roland Garros back in May but fell this time to the 17-year-old after missing two match points. Andreeva in the end came back to beat Danilovic 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to reach her first final where she will face her compatriot, Elina Avanesyan.
Avanesyan took down Chloe Paquet with a degree of ease today and aside from a tough tie with Petra Martic has stood out alongside Andreeva this week. So in reality, it is one of a few times when the two players in the final perhaps are the ones deserving of such an honour.
Alongside Andreeva, Avanesyan has alongside the likes of Diana Shnaider and even Anna Kalinskaya been a real Russian standout since breaking out like her final opponent last clay court season and will look to win her first WTA title.
In terms of Andreeva, Danilovic put up a tremendous effort to attempt to quell the teenager who has had a rampant run to the final. She fell behind early with a double break and never quite found her top tennis in the opening set, Andreeva looked shaky and perhaps there for the taking.
But this was down in part to Danilovic’s game style which favours the aggressive nature that Andreeva has struggled with against Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff in the past who exert power on the court as main facets of their game. Also Aryna Sabalenka similarly but Andreeva quelled that in Paris albeit with Sabalenka not at 100%.
Danilovic sealed the opener 6-4 and opened the second with an early break. Andreeva started to rally and took a 5-2 lead and sealed it 6-3. She still struggled on her serve though and Andreeva went 5-2 down. Only for her to fight when it looked like Danilovic was making the final. She sent it to a tie-break and breezed through 7-1 to go one match away from the title. Certainly ideal match practice for Paris especially having to avert adversity.
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