After several shocking upsets in the women’s draw at Roland Garros, Mirra Andreeva took advantage of a golden opportunity to win her first Grand Slam title.
Andreeva defeated Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the French Open final, overcoming her comfortably in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
At 19, the Russian became the third-youngest Grand Slam champion of the century, older than only Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open (18) and Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2004 (17).
How many Grand Slams titles does Mirra Andreeva have at the same age Aryna Sabalenka is now (28)?
Andreeva is coached by 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who former British player Greg Rusedski had high praise for.
Greg Rusedski reacts to Mirra Andreeva’s Roland Garros triumph
“Conchita [Martinez] just has that right mindset, that little relaxed Spanish mentality,” said Rusedski in an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg‘.
“She’s a brilliant tactician. I mean, the game plan against Kostyuk was perfect. And then also the final game plan, you know, against the wildcard Polish player who had the dream run of coming through qualifying.
“You just see those little tactical plays, the expectations of getting up to the slices and the drop shots and the movement and the anticipation of what’s coming next.
“And that’s where the great player helps you because they’ve been there. They’ve got the t-shirt of getting to major finals and winning one. So they understand the pressure, the expectation, and then how to handle the tactical awareness.
Which loss was more surprising, Aryna Sabalenka or Jannik Sinner?
Sinner lost in R2, Sabalenka in the QF…
“For me, the most important thing is she’s won her first ever major final. It’s like Roger Federer. He won his first one. There was no doubt. There was no question mark. And then after that, he pushed forward.
“For Andreeva, you know, I feel like this is the impetus for her to join the party. Yes, the Sabalenkas, the Rybakinas, they have the power. But Andreeva has that sort of smarts with her game. She can counterpunch. She can move well. She’s got variety. She’s young.
“So we’ve got two new stars, basically, who have won slams. [Alexander] Zverev has been there a long time at the top, but now to have a 19-year-old that’s won a major and that’s got the game, it’s exciting times now going into Wimbledon.”
Greg Rusedski praises ‘spectacular’ French Open
A new Grand Slam champion was crowned on both the men’s and women’s sides, with Alexander Zverev hoisting his maiden major trophy as well.
“This French Open has been spectacular,” said Rusedski. “I know everybody wanted to see Sinner or Alcaraz, you know, who was injured, or Sabalenka, Rybakina, Coco Gauff. But this, to me, was unexpected.
“We didn’t know who was going to be in the finals. If you were to pick these four finalists in the beginning and these as two champions, I doubt very few had done.
“I mean, there were a few who might have gone for Zverev with Carlos being out, but what a French Open it was.”
Zverev ended the streak of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at majors, becoming the first outside the ‘new two’ to win a Grand Slam since Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open.
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