“Mirra Andreeva is another talent I’m rooting for. She just recently broke into the top 10, so she’s one to definitely watch,” said Russian tennis icon Maria Sharapova in a recent chat with PopSugar. And let’s be honest: she has every reason to be proud of her countrywoman! The current World No. 11 Mirra Andreeva has taken the tennis world by storm, stunning the second seed Iga Swiatek twice in a month and becoming the youngest Indian Wells finalist since 2001. But who is Andreeva’s role model? Is it Sharapova, her countrywoman or is it Serena – arguably the Greatest of all time? But hey, is it really necessary to have a role model in the first champion? Some just like to carve their own path, and Andreeva seems to be one of those. So, what did she say after her history-making feat at the BNP Paribas Open?

After a fiercely contested opening set against Swiatek in the semifinals, Mirra Andreeva delivered a masterclass in the tie-break, clinching it as the Pole sent a forehand wide. But the 5-time GS winner struck back in the second set, breaking early and forcing a decider with a dominant display. As the California desert cooled and the winds swirled, Andreeva found her fire within. A blistering forehand winner secured a 3-1 lead in the decider, and Świątek’s mounting frustration peaked with a backhand error on match point, sealing a 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3 victory.

Right after the match, the teenage sensation was met with a thought-provoking question, one that took her down memory lane to tennis legends. She was asked about the past legends who etched their names in tennis history with remarkable feats as a teenager. Reflecting on the legacy of those who came before her, the Russian said, “Yes, of course I know that Monica Seles and Martina Hingis, they won a lot of tournaments and a lot of titles while they were still teenagers. Of course, I know that they have been playing great, and, you know, I try to kind of, I don’t know, be at the same level, but tennis has changed a lot, and now I cannot imagine me winning eight slams at 17 years old. It’s impossible. Yeah, of course I know what’s been going on, and about Maria and Serena.” 

She continued, “I have watched them play a lot, so I also know that they won a lot of titles and a lot of tournaments while being very young. So I don’t know. I try to not really think about it, because after, I can start to overthink, I can start to compare myself, and then I don’t think that it’s going to lead me to any good. I know what they have done. Okay, good for them. But I try not to think about them and try to focus on what to do with my career.”

The history of professional tennis is adorned with teenage superstars who rewrote the record books before even stepping into their twenties. Martina Hingis was a GS sensation, clinching all five of her singles majors before turning 19. Her meteoric rise began with the 1997 AO, where she outclassed Mary Pierce, followed by triumphs over Jana Novotna at Wimbledon and Venus Williams at the US Open. She then dominated Conchita Martínez and Amélie Mauresmo for a three-peat at the AO from 1997 to 1999.

And, towering above all is Monica Seles, who was simply unstoppable in the early ‘90s. At just 16, Seles stunned Steffi Graf to win the Roland Garros in 1990, followed by a remarkable three-Slam haul in both 1991 and 1992 before tragedy struck in 1993. Maria Sharapova followed suit in the 21st century, shocking Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 at just 17 and later clinching the 2006 US Open as well. Meanwhile, Serena herself conquered Flushing Meadows at 17 before going on to dominate for two decades.

So, Andreeva has quite a benchmark in front of her. Before facing Aryna Sabalenka, who avenged her loss to Madison Keys in the other SF, she reflected on her experience knowing the Belarusian post-match.

“Know her for a little bit now” — Mirra Andreeva on Aryna Sabalenka

The Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka holds a dominant 4-1 record over Andreeva, boasting an 80% win rate. Their last two encounters, at the AO and Brisbane Open, ended in straight-set victories for the Belarusian, with the AO defeat being particularly brutal for Andreeva, who fell 6-1, 6-2 in the R16. However, fresh off her latest triumphs, the Russian shared her remarks about Sabalenka.

“Yeah, I got to know her a little bit better when we played the exhibition and we were in one team. I cannot say that, you know, we’re great friends, but if I see her, of course we can talk about something, but not like her and Paula, for example.  Yeah, I got to know her a little better as a person because before, I had no idea what kind of person she is. Now I know her a little bit better, and yeah, we don’t spend a lot of time together, but I just know her for a little bit now,” Mirra said at the press conference. 

With the stage all set for the Indian Wells final, will Andreeva avenge her defeat in the Australian Open, or will Sabalenka, the 2023 runner-up at the BNP Paribas Open, finally claim the title in the California desert? Share your thoughts in the comments below.