French Open: Mirra Andreeva’s Doubles Withdrawal Draws a Harsh Reaction from SF Opponent Jasmine Paolini

Tennis not only demands blood, sweat, and toil but rest as well. This necessity has driven many athletes to make surprising decisions, prioritizing their well-being over the game. After making history in Women’s Singles at the ongoing French Open, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva faced a similar crossroads, choosing to withdraw from the Women’s Doubles tournament. The Russian tennis player’s decision sent ripples through the tennis world, surprising not only her compatriot Vera Zvonareva but also 12th-seed Jasmine Paolini.

Mirra Andreeva’s season has been nothing short of spectacular, especially at Roland Garros. No. 38’s most recent singles victory came against World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, whom she defeated in a thrilling Quarterfinal match, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. Following her intense match, Andreeva made the unexpected choice to withdraw from the women’s doubles quarterfinals, which were scheduled to take place shortly after her singles victory.

She explained to her doubles partner, Vera, that she needed rest before her impending semi-final match against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. This move raised eyebrows within the tennis community, as it is surprising for players in form to forfeit matches, especially at such a crucial stage. Even Paolini and Coco Gauff chose to compete in their doubles match right after their singles, showcasing a different approach. The decision not only surprised the tennis world but also her upcoming opponent, Jasmine Paolini.

During the post-match presentation after defeating Elena Rybakina, Paolini shared her thoughts on Andreeva’s choice. When asked if she considered a similar decision, Paolini disagreed. “I decided to play doubles here. For me, it’s as important as singles because if you enter a competition, in my opinion, you have to finish.” However, she respected Andreeva’s decision, acknowledging, “But you know that’s my decision. I understand the others and don’t want to criticize anyone. But, for myself, it was important to step on court and try to win the quarterfinals in doubles.”

Despite not siding with the young Russian’s decision, Paolini had nothing but praise for her skills and talent. Reflecting on their previous encounter at the Madrid Open, where Paolini lost in straight sets, she said, “With Mirra, it’s going to be a tough match. I played against her in Madrid and she is really a great player.” Paolini admired Andreeva’s mental stability and versatility on the court, adding, “I think she is so young, but she is so, so good mentally, and she can defend very well, she can serve well.”

Andreeva and Zvonareva’s withdrawal sends Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostyuk straight to the semifinals, scheduled for today. While a hard-fought victory would have been ideal, this is still a fantastic achievement for the duo. Ruse and Kostyuk will now face Paolini and Sara Errani in the semifinals. Meanwhile, despite skipping the doubles quarterfinals, the Russian tennis star had already etched her name in the history books. 

Mirra Andreeva becomes the youngest player in 27 years to play a Grand Slam Semi-finals

After defeating Sabalenka, Andreeva secured her place in the semi-finals and became the youngest player in almost 30 years to reach this stage of a Grand Slam. The last player to achieve such a feat was Swiss legend Martina Hingis in 1997, who at 16, reached both the Roland Garros and US Open semifinals.

While 17-year-old tennis prodigy etched her name in history books, she admitted the gameplan went out the window during her 2 hours and 29 minutes victory over Aryna Sabalenka. “I would say that I am almost like a normal teenager, because I still have to do my school that I don’t like to do. I watch a lot of TV series on my spare time. I watch Netflix. I sometimes spend too much time on my Instagram, or I just do some crap when I’m at home.”

As Mirra Andreeva prepares to face Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals, the tennis world watches with bated breath. Will her strategic withdrawal from the doubles match give her the edge she needs, or will Paolini, with her dedication to competing in both singles and doubles, deliver a setback to the young sensation? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Mirra Andreeva’s journey at Roland Garros has already left an incredible mark on tennis history.