“I’m really impressed with her game, with what she’s doing in women’s tennis” – Sabalenka on new teen sensation Andreeva

The 16-year-old Russian’s run at Wimbledon may have come to an end but her career is only just taking off

Mirra Andreeva during her women's singles fourth round match at Wimbledon 2023

Action Plus / Panoramic

July 11, 2023

Mirra Andreeva‘s Wimbledon run came to an end in the fourth round on Monday. The 16-year-old Russian won three matches in the qualifying draw and then three more in the main draw – including wins over 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova and 23rd Anastasia Potapova, before finally bowing out to Madison Keys in a three-set battle.

But Andreeva made a lot of fans and fellow players sit up and take notice of her during her run this fortnight, including Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and her conqueror, Keys.

“She’s amazing player. When I was 16, I was going crazy and I was hitting wrong targets all over the court, but not in court. She’s playing in really high level. I play her in Madrid. She’s really great player, fighting for every point,” Sabalenka, who beat Andreeva in the fourth round of the Madrid Open in May, said. “Definitely she’s going to be a top player very soon. I’m really impressed with her game, with what she’s doing in women’s tennis. That’s great. She’s definitely going to be a really great player.”

You don’t normally see them already have the ability to get in and out of corners the way I saw her doing today.
Madison Keys on Mirra Andreeva

Keys, who battled back from a set and a break down to oust the former junior world No 1 said she was most impressed by the teen’s movement on court and her serve.

“I think she moves incredibly well, especially from a younger player, you don’t normally see them already have the ability to get in and out of corners the way I saw her doing today. Honestly, I think she served better than me today. I was very impressed with her serve. Overall, I think she has a very solid game. It’s obviously going to improve with time,” said Keys, who meets Sabalenka in the quarter-finals on Wednesday next.

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