Teenager Mirra Andreeva secures French Open main draw spot
Mirra Andreeva qualified for the French Open main draw on Thursday and expressed her hope that her older sister could make it a family double on Friday.
World No 143 Andreeva, beat qualifying top seed Camila Osorio of Colombia 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.
The younger Andreeva sister made headlines in May when she reached the fourth round of the Madrid 1000 event, turning 16 during her run in teh Spanish Capitals.
Andreeva is the youngest player in the WTA’s top 300.
Her 18-year-old sister Erika, who is currently ranked No 147 by the WTA, faces Serbia’s Olga Danilovic on Friday.
“Its been one of our dreams to play a big tournament together,” Mirra told rolandgarros.com.
“As all sisters we used to fight a lot over the smallest things, for the TV remote, who will switch the channel.
“Let’s say now we’re grown ups, we really appreciate each other and appreciate the time together on tour.”
READ MORE: Are Novak Djokovic’s French Open hopes dependent on the weather?
Elizabeth Mandlik, whose mother Hana Mandlikova, won the women’s singles title in 1981, has also made the main draw for the French Open, which begins on Sunday.
Mandlik, who entered qualifying ranked at 118, saw off Laura Pigossi 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to gain the main draw of a Slam for the third time in her career.
Former ATP No 10 Lucas Pouille, whose ranking has slumped to 670 following battles with injury and depression, made the main draw of the men’s event with a gutsy 1-6 , 7-5, 6-0 win over Austria’s Jurij Rodionov.
Pouille appeared to grow in confidence through the match eventually handing Rodionov a bagel in the decisive set.
The Frenchman, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in 2019, wants to prove that he still has something to give to the game.
“It’s a great emotion, when I see all my family, my friends on the court. It’s liberation,” said Pouille.
“It comforts me to know that I still have a lot of things to give and to do in this sport. I am extremely proud of myself, extremely happy today, for me, and for all the people who have been helping me for months trying to get back.”
READ MORE: Iga Swiatek’s No 1 status on the line at Roland Garros
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