Mirra Andreeva is having a remarkable year, going from relative obscurity to potentially becoming a well-known figure, especially if she continues to deliver outstanding performances at Wimbledon.
In just her second grand slam appearance and sixth grass court match, the 16-year-old advanced to the second week in London with an impressive straight-sets victory over the 22nd seed Anastasia Potapova on Sunday.
Following her 6-2 7-5 triumph, Andreeva received warm applause from the crowd as she secured her spot in the last 16, where she will face Madison Keys from the United States.
Ranked 102nd in the world, she had to qualify for Wimbledon, and she now holds the record as the youngest player to reach the last 16 since Coco Gauff in 2019.
Andreeva had already become the third-youngest player in the Open Era to reach the third round at Wimbledon, following in the footsteps of Kim Clijsters in 1999 and Gauff four years ago.
Speaking to reporters after her victory, Andreeva described herself as “just a normal teenager, normal girl” and mentioned that she still had schoolwork to complete.
In 2021, Emma Radacanu made headlines by winning the US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier, and Andreeva’s performances have naturally led to comparisons with the British player.
Despite competing without a flag or national representation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Andreeva has had a successful year thus far, finishing as the runner-up at the junior Australian Open and reaching the fourth round of the Madrid Open in April, where she eventually lost to world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.
Her sudden rise in 2023 has attracted the attention of Netflix cameras, as they are filming her journey for the upcoming installment of the “Break Point” docuseries, specifically during her Wimbledon campaign.
