The 16-year-old Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva upset her compatriot and 22nd seed Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday, securing a spot in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Playing in her first senior grass court tournament, Andreeva, who had to navigate through the qualifying rounds, showcased her talent and maturity on Court Three. She displayed stunning strokes and remained composed throughout the match, outplaying her more experienced 22-year-old opponent.
Ranked 102 in the world, Andreeva had previously caught attention with her performance at the French Open, where she reached the third round in her debut Grand Slam tournament. Now, she has achieved an even greater feat by advancing to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Andreeva wasted no time, taking the first set in just half an hour. She demonstrated her versatility by approaching the net and winning points with a well-executed volley. Potapova struggled to find her rhythm initially.
In the second set, Potapova found her stride and broke Andreeva's serve twice, building a 4-1 lead. However, the young Andreeva displayed exceptional resilience and determination, mounting a comeback by winning three consecutive games.
Potapova faced a frustrating moment when she had to defend seven break points in a grueling game that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Despite the challenges, Andreeva remained undeterred, exhibiting maturity beyond her years. She broke Potapova's serve to lead 6-5 and secured victory after an hour and 35 minutes when Potapova hit a lob into the net.
Andreeva's next challenge in the fourth round will be against American Madison Keys, the 25th seed. The young Russian's impressive run at Wimbledon continues as she seeks to make her mark in the prestigious tournament.
(With inputs from Reuters)
