Russian Teen Mirra Andreeva Upsets No. 2 Seed Sabalenka at French Open
Mirra Andreeva, an unseeded 17-year-old from Russia, stunned No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 at the French Open on Wednesday, becoming the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist since Martina Hingis at age 16 in 1997.
I tried to play brave," said the 38th-ranked Andreeva from Paris. And I managed to win.
Andreeva is the youngest player to defeat a No. 1 or 2 seed at Roland Garros since Monica Seles—another International Tennis Hall of Famer—who was 16 when she beat Steffi Graf in the 1990 final.
Despite having not yet won a tour-level title and competing in only her fifth Slam tournament, Andreeva's performance was exceptional. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, had previously won the first 23 Grand Slam sets she played in 2024 until losing two in a row to Andreeva. Sabalenka, visibly ill and frequently attended by a trainer and doctor, clutched her midsection throughout the match.
The match concluded dramatically as Andreeva broke Sabalenka with a beautiful lob, prompting a wild smile and tears of joy from the teenager.
Honestly, I was really nervous before the match. I knew she had an advantage, especially with the crowd, said Andreeva, whose older sister, Erika, lost to Sabalenka in the first round last week. "But I was surprised because the crowd also cheered for me.
### Upcoming Matches
On Thursday, Andreeva will face 12th-seeded Jasmine Paolini, a 28-year-old from Italy, who reached her first major semifinal with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina.
It's an unbelievable feeling," said Paolini, who has won two titles in her career but none on clay.
Andreeva, coached by 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, expressed her free-spirited approach: "I just play how I want to play and do whatever I want to do.
The other women's semifinal will feature No. 1 Iga Swiatek against No. 3 Coco Gauff. Swiatek is seeking her fifth Grand Slam title and fourth in Paris, while Gauff won the U.S. Open last September and was the runner-up to Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2022.
Whoever wins the Swiatek-Gauff semifinal is expected to be the favorite in the final against Andreeva or Paolini.
Men's Semifinals
In the men's semifinals, Alexander Zverev beat Alex de Minaur 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to reach his fourth straight French Open semifinal. He will face two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud on Friday.
The other men's semifinal will feature No. 2 Jannik Sinner against No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. None of the remaining men have won the French Open before, making this the first final since 2004 without Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Roger Federer.
Zverev, aiming for his first Grand Slam title, faces a tough challenge against Ruud, who has lost in three Grand Slam finals. Zverev is also dealing with ongoing legal issues related to accusations of physical abuse by a former girlfriend, but he confirmed that this has not affected his ability to compete.
Djokovic's Injury
Novak Djokovic has undergone surgery for a medial meniscus tear in his right knee and is likely to miss Wimbledon, according to reports. Djokovic sustained the injury during his fourth-round victory at the French Open and subsequently withdrew from the tournament. His absence will see Jannik Sinner ascend to the No. 1 ATP ranking on Monday.
Notable Achievements
Andreeva's victory marks a significant milestone in her young career, as she continues to make waves in the tennis world with her fearless play and remarkable composure on the court.
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