Teenage Sensation Andreeva Overcomes Bucsa in Thrilling First-Round Match at Roland Garros
The sixth-ranked player in the world, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, has kicked off her Roland Garros campaign with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 victory over Cristina Bucsa. The Russian teenager, who reached her first major semifinal at the French Open last year, revealed that a strict morning routine played a crucial role in her success.
According to WTA Tennis, Andreeva woke up at 6:40 am to begin her day, with a carefully planned schedule that allowed her to pack her bag, have breakfast, and arrive at the locker room with plenty of time to spare. "Today I had to wake up at 6:40," Andreeva said in her on-court interview with Alex Corretja. "Then I had 35 minutes to pack my bag and do everything. Then I had 25 minutes to have breakfast, then we had 30 minutes to come here. Then I spent 11 minutes in the locker room. Then we did the warm-up, and went on court. It’s very well-planned."
Andreeva’s coach, Conchita MartÃnez, has been instrumental in helping her develop a winning mindset. The 53-year-old Spaniard, a former world No. 2, has been influencing Andreeva’s music tastes, introducing her to 80s rock band Bon Jovi. Andreeva revealed that she has been listening to "Livin’ on a Prayer" to get her pumped up for matches. "I was like, ‘Wow, I love it, who is the singer?’" Andreeva said. "And no offense, but I’m working with Conchita. I have to manage my music taste. I’m trying to be on the same level as her, so we have more or less the same taste in music."
The match against Bucsa was a closely contested affair, with the Spanish player taking a 3-0 double-break lead in the first set. However, Andreeva refused to give up, firing back with a series of impressive winners to claw her way back into the match. As WTA Tennis reports, Andreeva’s serve was also a key factor in her victory, with the teenager finishing the match with a 73% winning percentage behind her first delivery.
Andreeva’s victory sets up a second-round clash with Ashlyn Krueger, who defeated Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-4 to notch her first Roland Garros main-draw victory. Krueger won their only previous meeting 6-1, 6-4 in the US Open second round last year. Andreeva comes into the tournament with a strong record this season, having won her first two WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Reflecting on her match against Bucsa, Andreeva said: "I can say that she played amazing, especially in the beginning. I felt I was playing not bad, but … it was 0-3. If I’m playing not bad, how is it 0-3? So then I told myself to keep playing the same, try to fight for every point and put a lot of balls in court and try to play aggressive. Step-by-step, point-by-point, I found my rhythm and then it was easier for me to push and play aggressive." With this win, Andreeva has sent a strong message to her competitors at Roland Garros, demonstrating her ability to overcome adversity and perform under pressure.
As WTA Tennis notes, Andreeva’s impressive run at the French Open last year, where she reached her first major semifinal, has set high expectations for her performance this year. With her strict routine, strong coaching, and determination, Andreeva is certainly one to watch in the days to come.
