Mirra Andreeva is in the final of the French Open after two fantastic performances in the last two rounds. In the last few months she has had to learn to deal with the pressure of being a world-class player. She’s getting better and better at it. The freestyle against Maja Chwalinska follows on Saturday.
Mirra Andreeva was again “in the zone“. The Russian led against Marta Kostyuk 6:1 and 4:1 and was on the fastest way to the final. “In the zone.” That’s how she described the situation when she managed everything in the first set in the quarter-finals against the almost pitifully inferior Sorana Cirstea and she didn’t give her opponent a chance with an almost frightening dominance. She also achieved an incredible amount on the cool and windy Thursday.
Andreeva shows strong nerves
But then she was informed by referee Kader Nouni that the roof would be closed. Rain was expected. Kostyuk, who had had major problems with the difficult conditions up to that point, perhaps still saw a small chance match to return.
In the press conference after the match, Andreeva visibly proudly announced that she had kept her nerve: “I just thought, this is a great moment. But then I said to myself: Maybe it’s better that they close the roof now than if they interrupt the match. That was definitely not the best moment for me.“
Kostyuk also won the next two games and moved to 3:4. But then the experience she had gained in the last few months became apparent to the now 19-year-old. With strong nerves and never abandoning her match plan, she won the next two games and in the end won as confidently as she deserved.
Strong development in the last few weeks
Perhaps the most important development of the last few weeks was addressed directly by Andreeva in the press conference after her semi-final. A more mature way to deal with defeats and setbacks during a match: “I’m becoming a little more mature, a little more experienced with every match. I’m now able to approach every match differently and adapt to every opponent.“
Emotionally, the past year has been an emotional rollercoaster for the Russian. Her big breakthrough took place in 2025, tournament victories at the Masters in Dubai and Indian Wells had catapulted her right into the top of the world. At that time she was not yet 18 years old. A player has to deal with these early successes in different ways. The increased attention from outside was important manage. Added to this was the pressure to maintain or possibly increase the world ranking position among the best of the best.
Last year she failed because of Boisson
She failed to pass the first test in Paris at the same location last year. Not only did she lose to her French opponent Loïs Boisson in the quarterfinals of the French Open, she also gave in to the French fans. Sent a member of her team out of the stadium and hit a ball into the stands. The French audience booed them.
There was another case in March of this year. The points from the previous year wanted to be defended. There was an early defeat in Dubai and she also lost in the second round in Indian Wells. On the way from the pitch she insulted the audience in the worst possible way. After all, she recognized in her press conference shortly after the match that she had gone too far.
Turning point in Madrid
The turning point perhaps came at the preparatory tournament in Madrid. Andreeva had already led 5-1 in the third set against Hungarian Anna Bondar, but this lead slipped through her fingers in the next few minutes. At the break after the 5-6, Bondar had won five games in a row, a completely distraught Andreeva shouted to her coach Conchita Martinez: “I’m not a champion, I’m not a champion! I’m going to lose!” She rallied and won the match Tiebreakeronly lost in the final against her semi-final opponent in Roland Garros, Marta Kostyuk.
During the French Open this year, spectators saw a consolidated Mirra Andreeva. She only lost one set during the tournament and has been the best player in this tournament since the third round.
Mirra Andreeva during her semifinal match at the French Open
Sister relationship with coach Martinez
Conchita Martinez can take credit for a large part of this development. The two have been working together for a little over two years and if you observe how they interact, it rarely looks like a player-coach relationship. Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion, is 35 years older than Andreeva and could be her mother. But she seems like the big sister. The images of Andreeva crashing Martinez’s legends match at Wimbledon last year led to much amusement and viral videos.
Andreeva and coach Martinez
On Saturday she will face Maja Chwalinska in the final. Known only to absolute insiders before the tournament, the Pole is playing the tournament of her life. In their semi-final against Andreeva’s compatriot, Diana Shnaider, the Paris audience showed exactly the opposite side to Andreeva against Boisson 2025. If they take a player to their hearts, then unconditionally. “Maya, Maya“Chants echoed through the Court Philippe Chatrier and whipped the qualifier to victory.
In the final, Mirra Andreeva doesn’t just play against Chwalinska. She will also have the audience against her. A real test of whether she is really an adult.