Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has stormed back into the French Open semifinals with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea on a rainy Tuesday at Roland Garros. The 19-year-old, now among the top contenders for her first Grand Slam title after the exits of defending champion Coco Gauff and four-time winner Iga Swiatek, delivered an ultra-aggressive performance under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier.
Dominant Start Sets the Tone
Andreeva wasted no time asserting her dominance, racing through the first set in just 24 minutes. She broke Cirstea's serve three times and committed only a handful of unforced errors, leaving the 36-year-old Romanian struggling to find her rhythm. The sparse crowd witnessed a masterclass in aggressive baseline play, with Andreeva dictating points from the first ball.
“I’m super happy I was able to play aggressive,” Andreeva said after the match. “The last time I played her, it was a very tough battle. Every practice with her is very tough. We’ve practiced 10 times already this year and we know each other well. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I’d have to give 200 percent of my intensity and focus, as she would look to be aggressive and pressure me whenever she could.”
Cirstea Fights Back but Falls Short
Cirstea, playing in her third Grand Slam quarterfinal during her final year on the tour, steadied herself early in the second set. She managed to recover a break at 3-3, briefly raising hopes of a comeback. However, Andreeva quickly regained control, breaking Cirstea's serve again with a forced error and sealing the match with a blistering forehand winner. After the final point, Andreeva walked to the net and embraced her opponent warmly.
The victory marks Andreeva's 16th main-draw win at Roland Garros, setting a record for the most Paris main-draw victories by a teenager this century. She now awaits the winner of the all-Ukrainian clash between Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk.
