17-Year-Old Sensation Mirra Andreeva Shocks Roland-Garros—How the Rising Russian Teen Is Redefining Women’s Tennis

Rising Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva has stormed into the 2025 Roland-Garros spotlight, booking her maiden French Open quarter-final after a composed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over No. 10 seed Daria Kasatkina and a straight-sets win against Yulia Putintseva that featured a light-hearted moment: Andreeva credited a courtside fan for handing her a “lucky charm” wristband that she wore throughout the match, calling it “my little secret weapon”. Still just 18, the world No. 6 now faces French wildcard Loïs Boisson on Court Philippe-Chatrier—an encounter already drawing massive local interest because Boisson, ranked 361, stunned Jessica Pegula to set up the clash. Andreeva broke early to lead 3-1 in the opening set before rain briefly forced the roof to close, yet the teenager’s baseline precision and trademark on-the-run backhand pass helped her keep control of the scoreboard. Andreeva’s Paris surge continues a meteoric trajectory that began with last season’s Wimbledon semi-final and her breakthrough WTA title in Doha; since January she owns tour-leading clay-court hold-serve numbers (84 %) and is second only to Iga Świątek in return games won (52 %). Her father Sergey drilled her on Siberian indoor courts, and the frigid sessions appear to have forged an iron mentality: Andreeva has won 12 of her 14 three-set matches in 2025. Key to today’s quarter-final will be her heavy topspin forehand to Boisson’s single-handed backhand, as well as first-serve efficiency. The Russian is averaging 184 km/h on first delivery this fortnight, up from 178 km/h at the 2024 US Open, and has struck 23 aces against just nine double faults through four rounds. Should Andreeva advance, a potential semi-final with Coco Gauff—who outlasted Madison Keys earlier—looms large. The pair have split their two meetings this season, with Andreeva prevailing on Madrid clay and Gauff responding on Stuttgart’s indoor clay a month later. How to follow: Live streaming is available worldwide via the Roland-Garros digital platforms; in India, SonyLiv carries the match, while Tennis Channel holds rights in the United States. First-ball timing is approximately 16:30 local (14:30 UTC), weather permitting. Mirra Andreeva Fast Facts • Age: 18 (born 29 April 2007, Krasnoyarsk) • 2025 win-loss: 32-5 (15-2 on clay) • Career-high ranking: No. 6 (achieved 19 May 2025) • Prize money this season: $2.14 million • Favourite surface: clay (“because it rewards problem-solving”) Social buzz around the #Andreeva hashtag has spiked 300 % since the opening round, with a viral clip of her sliding forehand pass against Kasatkina receiving 4.2 million views on X in 24 hours. Brands are also circling: sources inside her camp confirm a near-finalised apparel deal with a major French label, timed for release if she reaches the final weekend. For now, the teenager’s focus remains squarely on the terre battue. “I’ve dreamed of lifting the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen since I was five,” she told courtside reporters. “Dreams feel closer when you put work behind them—one point at a time.” With her power, poise and rapidly expanding fan base, Mirra Andreeva is no longer just a promising prodigy—she is a genuine contender, and the Paris clay might be about to witness the coronation of its next superstar.