16-year-old Mirra Andreeva becomes youngest to qualify for Roland-Garros main draw since 1995

The Russian could be joined by her sister, Erika Andreeva, who plays her final round of qualifying today

Mirra Andreeva at the Mutua Madrid Open 2023 Image Credit: Laurent Lairys / Panoramic

May 26, 2023

Russian teenager, Mirra Andreeva, all of just 16, made a splashing start to her pro Grand Slam career by coming through the qualifying draw at Roland-Garros, her first competing in the Grand Slams at the WTA level.

Andreeva, ranked no 143 in the world, defeated top seed Camila Osorio 7-6(8), 6-4 in the third and final round of qualifying at the French Open on Thursday to continue her ascent up the pro ranks. Last month, the precocious youngster beat two top 20 players en route to reaching the fourth round of the Madrid Open as a wild card. That came after she had won 2 ITF $60K titles earlier in April.

At 16 years and 26 days, Andreeva becomes the youngest player to qualifying for the Roland-Garros women’s main draw since Amelie Mauresmo did the same in 1995 at the age of 15 years and 10 months.

“I watched every Grand Slam, all the time growing up. This is a dream to be here,” Andreeva said. “I played juniors last year, this is just amazing. After the juniors I didn’t really think I could do something like this, but I was just working, working more, fighting in practice, fighting in tournaments and here I am. The difference between the juniors and the women’s tour is pretty big. In juniors you can let yourself relax for a little bit, if you have the better level. But here you have to fight for every point. No one will give you anything in any match.”

There may be more good news for the Andreeva household on Friday as older sister Erika Andreeva, aged 18 and ranked No 147 in the world, is one win away from joining Mirra in the main draw. The older Andreeva sister takes on Olga Danilovic in the final qualifying round on Friday.

“Like any sister, I want her to win. I’m really nervous when she plays. If we both make the main draw it would be even more amazing,” Mirra Andreeva said on Thursday. “It’s been one of our dreams to play a big tournament together. 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 grownups, we really appreciate each other and appreciate the time together on tour.”

Also moving into the main draw on Thursday were Elizabeth Mandlik, daughter of former Grand Slam champion Hana Mandlikova, who scored a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win over Laura Pigossi; Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, who defeated Belgian Greet Minnen 6-3, 2-6, 6-4; and American Kayla Day, a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 winner over Eilina Avanesyan.

The final round of qualifying continues on Friday with 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova, 17-year-old Sara Bejlek, 20-year-old Clara Tauson, American Taylor Townsend and 2021 French Open semi-finalist Tamara Zidanesk all hoping to punch their tickets into the main draw.