"If I win, I’ll buy you dinner!": Mirra Andreeva strikes Wimbledon deal with Martina Navratilova after receiving key advice
WTA
At just 18 years old, Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva is already making headlines not only for her tennis but also for her charm, and her cheeky deal-making.
After a confident 6-3, 6-3 win over Egypt’s Mayar Sherif in the opening round of Wimbledon 2025, the world No. 7 found herself in the enviable position of receiving advice from the most decorated woman in Wimbledon history, Martina Navratilova.
The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion took to the Tennis Channel post-match to chat with Andreeva, who was visibly thrilled to speak with the legend. The conversation quickly turned into a spontaneous coaching session, with a playful twist.
"I think that, I’m not gonna tell you everything. Some basics: She told me to always stay low, not get up with my legs, like to always be low and kind of,” Andreeva acknowledged.
"Even when I run for a drop shot or play defence, I should always stay low. And I feel like it’s working, actually.".
Martina Navaratilova added onto Andreeva's analysis by saying, "By the way, it’s both the slice. She used it, but on grass and also, the players don’t like it when you slice the ball, because the ball stays low and they can’t really get a good hit on the ball.".
The conversation continued with a lighter exchange where Andreeva made a deal and offered to buy the 68-year-old a meal if her advice helped Andreeva win the next match.
"Staying low is essential and shorten up the swings a little bit," Navratilova said, to which Andreeva responded: "Shorten up the swings, okay. If I lose my next match that’s your fault.".
Levelling up the stakes Navratilova responded: "Okay, and if you win, what do I get?", before Andreeva answered: "If I win, then I can buy you dinner in a nice restaurant," to which a happy Navratilova said: "I’ll take it!".
In the Russian star's next match she’ll next face Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in the second round, with her sights set on at least matching her best Grand Slam performance, reaching the fourth round. But with the motivation of a dinner date with a legend and some tactical tweaks from one of the all-time greats, there’s a new spark in Andreeva’s Wimbledon campaign.
Bronzetti, ranked just outside the top 40, is known for her resilience and defensive skill. While she doesn’t possess Andreeva’s raw power or shot-making flair, the Italian is an experienced counterpuncher who thrives on disrupting rhythm, something that could test Andreeva’s patience.
Grass isn’t Bronzetti’s preferred surface, but she has shown she can adapt, using her flat groundstrokes and compact technique to good effect. For Andreeva, the key will be maintaining her aggressive baseline play while applying Navratilova’s advice: staying low, shortening swings, and mixing in slices to keep Bronzetti uncomfortable.
If she executes the game plan and avoids mental lapses, the teenage sensation could be on course not just for round three, but for an extended run at the All England Club.
Match Info:
Mirra Andreeva - Lucia Bronzetti
Start time (local): Thu, 3 Jul, 1:00 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 3 Jul, 8:00 PM
Court: Court 1
Tournament: The Championships, Wimbledon
Round: Round of 64
Head-to-Head
| Andreeva | Bronzetti | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 7 | 63 |
| Race Ranking | 5 | 79 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 5 (+2) | 65 (-2) |
| Live Race Ranking | 5 | 75 (+4) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 18 (29 Apr 2007) | 26 (10 Dec 1998) |
| Birthplace | Krasnoyarsk, Russia | Rimini, Italy |
| Residence | Cannes, France | Anzio, Italy |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | - |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2022 | - |
| Coach | Conchita Martínez | - |
| YTD W/L | 31-10 (76%) | 11-16 (41%) |
| YTD Titles | 2 | - |
| Career Titles | 3 | 1 |
| Prize Money | US$ 6,237,201 | US$ 2,751,214 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
First meeting |
||
A victory would put her into the third round, where she is likely to face either American Hailey Baptiste or Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko. On paper, Andreeva would be favoured in either matchup, particularly given her current form and top-10 status.
Baptiste has power and athleticism but lacks consistency on grass, while Mboko is still early in her Grand Slam journey. However, both players bring unpredictable elements that could test the Russian if she loses focus.
Looking further ahead, her quarter of the draw also features names like Barbora Krejcikova, Elena Rybakina, and world No. 8 Iga Swiatek. While those challenges loom in later rounds, Andreeva’s immediate focus is on Bronzetti, and on delivering a win that earns her more than just ranking points, but a well-earned dinner with a legend.
If her level stays as high as it was in round one, it’s a reservation she just might be making.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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