Mirra Andreeva began her Wimbledon campaign with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Poland's Magda Linette on Monday evening, taking the first step in her bid to join an elite group of women who have won the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. Only three players have achieved this double: Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams.
Andreeva faces daunting task after French Open triumph
Winning Roland Garros and then Wimbledon consecutively is considered one of the toughest challenges in tennis. The transition from clay to grass is abrupt, with a three-week turnaround, and champions often struggle with fatigue, increased expectations, and media attention. Andreeva, at 19, is still developing her game and managing emotions on court.
"Of course the feeling [of winning a grand slam] is unbelievable," Andreeva said. "But on the other side, you expect more from yourself, feel more pressure. People expect you to do well. Next time I will try to block out those thoughts, because I was thinking about that a little bit. But a win is a win, even though I was complaining a lot."
Test against Linette provides valuable experience
Linette, ranked 59th, tested Andreeva with varied spin and pace, attacking the second serve and coming to the net. Andreeva struggled with the low bounce and slipped on her right ankle, but relied on her big first serve, anticipation, and powerful groundstrokes to prevail. She showed aggression and adjusted her strategy for grass, contrasting with the patience required on clay.
History against Andreeva but potential shines through
Recent French Open champions have failed at Wimbledon: Garbiñe Muguruza lost in round two in 2016, Ash Barty in round four in 2019, and Coco Gauff in round one in 2024. However, Andreeva has consistently overcome challenges in her young career. Her second-round opponent is Barbora Krejcikova, another player affected by the "Roland Garros curse."
Andreeva acknowledged the pressure but remains focused. Despite being Russian and potentially facing a cool reception from the crowd, she is only six wins away from greatness. Her ability to adapt and solve problems suggests she may defy the odds.
