Mirra
Andreeva finally managed to get a photo with her idol, Andy Murray, during the
French Open. The 17-year-old has frequently expressed her admiration for the
three-time Grand Slam champion, and this time at Roland Garros, she got the
chance to snap a picture with him just before achieving her best career
performance in a Grand Slam.
With
only a year on the WTA Tour, Andreeva has already established herself as a
top-tier player. At the French Open, she reached the semifinals, defeating
notable opponents such as Victoria Azarenka, Varvara Gracheva, and world No. 2
Aryna Sabalenka, before falling to Jasmine Paolini in straight sets.
Nevertheless, Andreeva's remarkable performance will propel her into the top-25
of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career, landing at No. 23.
The Long-Awaited Photo with Murray
The
young Russian burst onto the global tennis scene during the 2023 Madrid Open.
At just 15 years old (she turned 16 during the tournament), she defeated two
top-20 players and reached the quarterfinals before losing to Sabalenka. In an
interview, Andreeva shared her favourite part of competing at the Caja Mágica:
“The
atmosphere is so special. You take a lunch with all these stars, let’s say. You
see Andy Murray... you see his face and he’s so beautiful in life. He’s so
amazing,” she said. A few
hours later, Andy Murray humorously responded on Twitter: “Imagine how good
she’s going to be when she gets her eyes fixed.”
Since
then, Andreeva has consistently praised Murray and expressed her admiration for
him. Their connection deepened when, during the Australian Open, the former
world No. 1 defended Andreeva against criticism from a commentator during her
match at the 2024 Australian Open:
“Andreeva
down 5-1 in third. Commentator: ‘She really needs to work on the mental side of
her game. She’s too hard on herself when she’s losing.’ 30 minutes later,
Andreeva wins 7-6. Maybe the reason she turned the match around is because of
her mental strength. Maybe she turned the match around because she is hard on
herself and demands more of herself when she’s losing/playing badly? Winner.”
At the
French Open, a photo of the Russian star and the veteran former world No. 1 at
Roland Garros was shared. When asked if reaching the semifinals or finally
getting a photo with her idol was better, Andreeva said: “Both are good. It was
a nice moment at the beginning of the tournament because I had a gift. I had,
like, a retro camera. I was, like, well, I have to do a lot of potos,” Andreeva
said.
“I had
25 or 30 pictures that I can do. So, well, I made a list with who I want to
take a picture. Of course, Andy, he was first on the list because, I mean, we
had a few interactions, but I don't even have a photo with him. I was, like,
well, we need to fix that. I saw him few times before, but he was warming up,
he was eating. So I was, like, well, next time, next time.”
“Then
on that day I saw him just talking to his team. I was, like, Well, he's busy,
no, no, no. My coach was, like, No, you go, you do it, and after we forget
about it. So she kind of pushed me to him. Well, finally, I had a picture with
him.”
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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