Mirra Andreeva Wins French Open, Claims First Grand Slam Title

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva beat Polish underdog Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the French Open in Paris on Saturday to claim her first Grand Slam title. Andreeva, 19, is the youngest player to win the women’s singles title at Roland Garros since Yugoslavia’s Monica Seles, who was 18 when she won a third consecutive French Open in 1992. She is also the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova won the French Open in 2014 and the first teenager to take the crown since Poland’s Iga Swiatek in 2020. During the trophy presentation, Andreeva took the unusual step of thanking herself “for believing in myself, always giving 100%, even when it’s tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside me.” “Only I know how tough it was for me,” she continued. “How nervous I was throughout these two weeks.” Andreeva’s opponent, Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, was attempting to become the first qualifier to win in the French capital, but stood little chance against the world number eight. “You’re so young and talented. It’s so annoying,” Chwalinska jokingly told Andreeva during the awards ceremony. In the men’s draw, Germany’s Alexander Zverev is also looking to win a first ever Grand Slam title when he faces Flavio Cobolli on Sunday. Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez