“Don’t do it for anyone else”: Gauff’s advice to 16-year-old Andreeva

The breakthrough run of 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva has ended at Roland-Garros 2023, courtesy of another big-hitting youth, Coco Gauff.

Teenager Mirra Andreeva has been something of a sensation on the WTA Tour in the past two months, stringing together a 22-2 record ahead of her third-round Roland-Garros match since turning professional in April.

Speaking to the press after her 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-1 victory, Gauff credits her increased experience for helping her navigate the challenging match.

“She plays beyond her years” – Gauff praises Andreeva’s level in third-round

When questioned about whether age and experience played a role in Gauff’s victory over the in-form Russian, the 19-year-old was realistic in her response.

“I don’t know, to be honest. When I played against her I didn’t feel like she was lacking experience.

“I can say probably experience played a factor, but honestly what it felt like on the court, it didn’t feel like it. I think she plays beyond her years, and I don’t know, feel similar to how I was.”

Critical to Gauff’s success in this match was her ability to bounce back from losing the first set tiebreak. Central to this shift in momentum is the way Andreeva held herself on court, something Gauff likely perceived due to her experience.

“Honestly at the end of the first set it was weird, I had a feeling that, I don’t know if it was the energy she was giving me off or anything, wasn’t really quite anything she did, but I had a feeling that, even though I lost that set, I felt like I won the set.”

Teen to teen advice: “Just do it for you”

Given that Gauff vs Andreeva attracted much attention because of the contestants’ age, Coco Gauff has given a piece of advice to Mirra Andreeva moving forward in her career.

“The advice to her, just to do it for you. I mean, don’t do it for anyone else. When you step on the court you want to make sure it’s for you, and I think life and the game will be a lot more enjoyable that way.”

Having had her own Grand Slam breakthrough at the age of 15, Gauff is a prime example of a player who has been able to turn early success into a sustainable career. At No 6 in the world, the American credits having the right people around her for her ability to sustain success on the WTA Tour.

“I never felt pressured by results. I had a great family surrounded by me. Great agency surrounded by me. Great sponsors surrounded by me where I never felt pressure to do anything result-wise.

“Really, all the pressure was the pressure I was putting on myself, and that’s always going to be the case.”

As Andreeva seeks to put together a similar run at Wimbledon later this month, the 16-year-old would do well to take Gauff’s words on board at this stage of her career.

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Gauff happy with level ahead of last 16

In what was her biggest challenge of the tournament so far, Coco Gauff is happy with the level she displayed defeating Mirra Andreeva.

“I knew in my head that I was playing the right way.

“I mean, 6-5 serving for it, 30-Love and she played great in the tiebreaker. I think I had two loose points and that matters in the tiebreaker.

“I think just keeping and trusting in my shots and my game plan (was key to victory). I feel like in the first I have myself so many opportunities to close it out and I came up short on a few points, but I knew, you know, the way I was playing and the direction I was going that I would have been able to get the second.”

Next up Gauff faces Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, before a potential quarter-final encounter with world No 1 Iga Swiatek. The 19-year-old is not thinking about that prospect yet however, with all eyes on her upcoming doubles match instead.