Mirra Andreeva emulates two former world No 1’s with impressive French Open feats

Oli Dickson Jefford 31 May 2025 1:27 PM

Mirra Andreeva celebrates a win.

Mirra Andreeva was thankful for receiving a “lucky charm” ahead of her historic third-round victory at the French Open.

Sixth seed Andreeva was in sublime form as she sealed her place in the fourth round of Roland Garros with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 triumph over 32nd seed Yulia Putintseva.

The 18-year-old was on court for just 78 minutes, hitting an impressive 27 winners to 18 unforced errors against her opponent out on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Andreeva has impressed throughout her opening three matches at the French Open, with the teen star yet to drop a set on her way to the second week.

However, she revealed a surprise gift in Paris had inspired her latest victory.

Speaking in her on-court victory after the match, the world No 6 revealed a special “lucky charm” from a young girl on court had helped push her to victory.

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“When I was walking on court, a little girl that was with me put it on my bench,” said Andreeva.

“I think it was kind of a lucky charm. It doesn’t look that beautiful anymore because of the rain, but of course I’m going to keep it.

“I think it’s my lucky charm now. I don’t know, wherever that girl is, thank you so much.. because this is why I won today.”

Andreeva is now in the fourth round of Roland Garros for the second straight year, following her breakthrough run to the semi-final twelve months ago.

And, she has now followed in the footsteps of tennis legends Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis with two impressive milestones.

Victory over Putintseva was Andreeva’s 30th match win of 2025, after a stunning start to the season, which has seen her win WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.

Aged 18, Andreeva is the youngest player since Sharapova in 2005 – also aged 18 – to have won 30 tour-level matches before the conclusion of the French Open, and is the first teenager to achieve that since a 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka in 2009.

Having reached the third round on her tournament debut in 2023 and the last four last year, the Russian has now won 10 main draw matches at the tournament.

At 18 years and 26 days old, Andreeva is now the youngest woman since Hingis, aged 16 years and 238 days in 1997, to win that many matches at Roland Garros.

Andreeva will look for her 11th match win at the tournament when she returns to action on Monday for a fourth-round clash versus 17th seed Daria Kasatkina.

In her first Slam representing Australia, Kasatkina has been somewhat under the radar in Paris, though she picked up an impressive 6-1, 7-5 victory over 10th seed Paula Badosa on Saturday.

Kasatkina and Andreeva have met just once before, with the Australian triumphing 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 in the 2024 Ningbo Open final.