“She has a very bright future ahead”: Maria Sharapova heaps praise on young sensation Mirra Andreeva

Former world number one Maria Sharapova has praised young Russian tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva. The 17-year-old is already regarded as the next big thing in women’s tennis after playing in numerous events on the WTA tour.

Sharapova, who is regarded as one of the finest women’s players to come from Russia and finished her career after winning five Grand Slam titles, was recently quoted in a report where she heaped praise on Andreeva and believes that the youngster will have a ‘bright future’. "This is a tough one. I want to say Mirra Andreeva will have a phenomenal year,” she said. “I followed a little bit of her matches in 23’ and I think she has a strong attitude [and] she has the game to back it up. Genuinely, just like her approach and her sensibility in the game. And I think she has a very bright future ahead of her.”

Andreeva recently took part in the Madrid Open where her journey finally came to an end as she lost in the quarterfinal to the current world number two Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4. The youngster also took part in the doubles category in the Spanish capital, where she, along with her partner Vera Zvonareva, lost in the round of 16 to the pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund with a score of 6-4, 6-2.