Russian, 19, beats qualifier 6-3, 6-2 for first slam title
Poland’s Chwalinska fails to emulate Raducanu’s feats
Twenty minutes into the first grand slam final of her young career, it looked like Mirra Andreeva’s head was already in danger of exiting Court Philippe-Chatrier. Between the weight of such a potentially career-defining occasion, the excruciating windy conditions and a resourceful opponent seemingly built to cause her maximum anguish, Andreeva looked crippled by tension.
Her reaction to the surrounding pressure underlined the work Andreeva has put into addressing her emotional vulnerabilities. She maintained her composure at all costs, coolly problem-solving and then eventually flourishing after a tense start as she ended the qualifier Maja Chwalinska’s historic run with a 6-3, 6-2 victory to capture her first grand slam at Roland Garros.
Ever since she arrived on tour as a 15-year-old, already tussling with and defeating some of the best players in the world, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Andreeva began to compete for these titles. The more pressing question was how long it would take. Not too long, it turns out. At 19, Andreeva is the youngest French Open champion since Monica Seles won her third consecutive title in 1992 and the third-youngest first-time grand slam champion of the 21st century, behind only Maria Sharapova and Emma Raducanu.
