"I’m using it to find solutions": Mirra Andreeva reveals not looking to 'calm down' anytime soon

Russia’s young tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva has revealed that she is not looking to stay ‘calm’ after maturing. The 17-year-old is already regarded as the next big thing in women’s tennis in the singles category. Time and again, Andreeva has produced some incredible results on the court. Those results have kept her in discussion to become one for the future of women’s tennis.

Andreeva was recently quoted in a report where she spoke about how she used to play in the early days of her career. She also highlighted how she is having a hard time meeting fans' expectations and that she is looking forward to learning how to deal with such situations in the future.

"Last year, especially, I felt like I have nothing to lose so I could go out, feel like everything was possible and see what happens,” she said. “I was never nervous before matches. Now, I feel like people expect some things from me and this can be a bit of a pressure. All this energy that I have, I’m not spending it trying to calm myself down anymore. I’m using it to find solutions, to overcome some difficult moments. Before, I wouldn’t be able to do that. This may be maturity for me."

Andreeva’s most impressive outing in her career came during the French Open. Her journey finally ended as she lost in the semifinal to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-3, 6-1. While on her way to the semis, the Krasnoyarsk-born star defeated the former world number one and two-time Grand Slam winner Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinal with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Before that, she also defeated another former world number one, Victoria Azarenka, in the second round with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. She is now set to take part in Wimbledon, where her first-round opponent will be the Czech Republic’s Brenda Fruhvirtova.