Xplorich
Teenager Mirra Andreeva won her first Grand Slam title on Saturday, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open women’s singles final, becoming the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova won the tournament in 2014.The victory made the 19-year-old Andreeva the youngest player to win the French Open women’s singles title since Monica Seles, who was 18 when she claimed her third straight Roland Garros crown in 1992.Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, was aiming to become the first qualifier to win the French Open title. However, Andreeva controlled the match and sealed the win with a backhand cross-court winner on her first championship point before dropping to her knees on the clay in celebration.The final came at the end of a tournament in which Andreeva continued the rise that began when she burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old at the 2023 Madrid Open. There, she became the third-youngest player to win a main-draw match at a WTA 1000 event and reached the quarterfinals.In recent years, Andreeva has competed without the Russian flag and under neutral status because of the war in Ukraine. During the semifinals, she defeated Marta Kostyuk, who did not shake hands with her after the match, continuing a practice followed by Ukrainian players against Russian opponents since 2022.By winning the title, Andreeva also surpassed the achievement of her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who finished runner-up at the 2000 French Open. Former champion Mary Pierce, who beat Martinez in that final, presented the trophy to Andreeva.The match was played under mostly sunny skies, though strong winds affected both players in what was the first Grand Slam final for each of them.Chwalinska started nervously, double-faulting on the opening point of the match, but became the first player to hold serve when she took the fifth game. As the match progressed, however, Andreeva adapted better to the conditions and found answers to Chwalinska’s mix of spin, drop shots and variation.The tournament will conclude on Sunday when Alexander Zverev faces Flavio Cobolli in the men’s singles final.
