“A 23-time Grand Slam champion saying that means something”: Mirra Andreeva humbled by Serena Williams praise

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 08:30

Mirra Andreeva waving to the crowd at Wimbledon

Mirra Andreeva admitted she was both surprised and honoured after learning that Serena Williams had named her among the young players she most enjoys watching, joking that she would much rather practise with the American than have to face her on court.

The timing of the exchange adds another layer to Wimbledon, with Williams set to make her long-awaited singles return on Tuesday afternoon on Centre Court against Australian Maya Joint.

It will be Serena's first singles appearance since the 2022 US Open, where she reached the third round before losing to Ajla Tomljanović, ending what was believed to be the final tournament of her legendary career.

The age gap between the two players underlines the significance of the moment. Williams is 25 years older than Andreeva. When the Russian was born in 2007, Serena was already an eight-time Grand Slam champion and had spent 57 weeks as world No. 1. By the time Andreeva made her WTA breakthrough in 2023, Williams had already retired, finishing her career with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 319 weeks atop the WTA rankings.

Andreeva arrives at the second round after overcoming Magda Linette 7-5, 6-4 in a demanding opening match, but much of the attention afterwards centred on her reaction to the praise she had received from one of the greatest players in tennis history.

“Maybe I can practise with her one day”

Asked about Williams' recent comments, Andreeva admitted the compliment carried special significance given its source. "It feels great, of course. Those words coming from a 23-time Grand Slam champion definitely mean something. It's just very nice to hear that from such an amazing player and such an amazing competitor."

The reigning Roland Garros champion also revealed that the possibility of playing alongside Williams had briefly been discussed before her clay-court success changed her schedule. "I was also considering playing doubles with her at Queen's, but after playing well in Paris we decided not to play Queen's."

Despite the admiration, Andreeva smiled as she admitted she has no interest in facing Serena across the net. "I can also say that even if she says those nice things, I wouldn't really want to play against her. I'm just super happy that I don't have to play her. Maybe I can practise with her one day, but for now I'm just really happy with what she said about me."

Mirra Andreeva competing at Wimbledon

Roland Garros champion through to another difficult test

Andreeva's Wimbledon campaign began with a composed victory over Magda Linette, although the scoreline did not reflect the competitiveness of the contest. Both sets followed a similar pattern, with the Russian opening a 4-2 lead before Linette fought back to level. On each occasion, however, Andreeva produced a late break to seal a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

The world No. 5 reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year before losing to Belinda Bencic in two tight tie-break sets, and now returns looking to go even further.

Her path will not get any easier. Awaiting in the second round is defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková, one of the toughest possible early opponents among the seeded players.

The pair have met four times previously, with Andreeva winning three of those encounters, including their 2023 Wimbledon meeting, which ended with Krejčíková retiring while trailing 6-3, 4-0.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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