You know, in sports, it’s a familiar scene: the trophy lifted, the heartfelt speech, the laundry list of thank yous – family, coaches, teammates. But it got me thinking… how often do you see an athlete, in that moment of triumph, turn inward and simply say, ‘Thank you, me’? It’s a rare sight, isn’t it? But that’s what fans witnessed on Saturday as Mirra Andreeva let her emotions flow and why not? At just 17 years and 299 days, Andreeva made history as the youngest WTA 1000 finalist and champion since 2009. Yet, her post-victory words sparked an unexpected comparison to a speech by Snoop Dogg, delivered seven years prior. What was the surprising link?

It was a week full of endless highs for Andreeva at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Before making it to her first WTA 1000 final, the teenager stunned the likes of Marketa Vondrousova, Peyten Sterns, and even former World No.1 Iga Swiatek. Andreeva ousted the five-time Slam queen in straight sets in the QF stage. But she didn’t stop there and beat another Major winner, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, in the semifinal. On Saturday, Andreeva was probably riding on the form of her life as she didn’t give her Danish opponent any chance to come back. In straight sets, the 2024 French Open semifinalist sealed her win with a score line of 7-6(1), 6-1.

As she hoisted the trophy, Andreeva took her a moment to express her feelings. Delivering a powerful speech, Andreeva said, “I’d like to thank me. I know what I’ve been dealing with so I want to thank me for always believing in me I want to thank me for never quitting and always dealing with the pressure. Today was not easy but I chose to be there 100% so I thank myself for that.”

Of course, it was an emotional moment for her, considering how her season was going a few days ago. After ending her Australian Open run with a fourth round loss to Aryna Sabalenka, she failed to impress in Doha as well. Last week, her campaign wrapped up early with a second round defeat against Rebecca Sramkova. But her courage to prove herself on the court outshined her disappointment.

In his 2018 Hollywood Walk of Fame induction speech, American rapper Snoop Dogg (Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) said, “I want to thank me for believing in me,” as reported Euro News in November that year. With the initial few words of his speech, he invited a big laughter from the crowd. Maybe people thought he was joking, for thanking himself. But he wasn’t.

Continuing further, he said, “I want to thank me for doing all this hard work. I want to thank me for having no days off. I want to thank me for never quitting. I want to thank me for always being a giver and trying to give more than I receive. I want to thank me for trying to do more right and wrong. I want to thank me for just being me at all times.” Remember his ‘I Wanna Thank Me’ song from 2019?

The moment tennis fans heard Mirra Andreeva’s words while accepting her winner’s trophy in Dubai, some of them went back in time.

Fans can’t help but get reminded of Snoop Dogg after hearing to Mirra Andreeva

“Snoop dog vibes 😄”, wrote one user. Listening to Andreeva, another fan echoed a similar sentiment saying, “Snoop dog imitation”. Following her historic win in Dubai, Andreeva will also accomplish another milestone. For the first time in her career, she will make her top 10 debut in the WTA ranking list. The change will reflect when it gets updated on Monday. From being No.14, she will rise to No.9. Since Czechia’s Nicole Vaidišová in 2007, she will be the first 17-year-old to be in the top 10.

Well, well…Andreeva did some ordinary stuff, too. She thanked her team and family, especially her Spanish coach, Conchita Martinez. “Especially thanks to Conchita. I know that I can be a pain in the a–. But you have always been there for me and it feels great to lift this title together. And I hope that we can lift many more trophies together,” she added.

While the 17-year-old didn’t even realize it, fans think she unintentionally channelized her inner Snoop Dogg. It becomes evident from another reaction that read, “Thats snoop dog lol” Meanwhile, one user shared the GIF from the rapper’s speech, as they felt “Same vibe!” hearing Andreeva. One fan praised her while claiming that had he listened to her, “Snoop would have been proud” too.

Having won the WTA 2023 Newcomer of the Year award, Andreeva is only the fifth player to win multiple titles before turning 18. The famous figures to have achieved this feat before her include Maria Sharapova, Michaëlla Krajicek, Nicole Vaidišová, and Coco Gauff. Well, what are your thoughts on her victory speech? Have you ever thanked yourself similarly?