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Mirra Andreeva edges nearer to first Grand Slam as dream moves closer to reality

Mirra Andreeva is a win away from her first Grand Slam
Mirra Andreeva is a win away from her first Grand SlamREUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane

Mirra Andreeva moved to within touching distance of her maiden Grand Slam title ⁠at the French Open, marking the culmination of a long-held dream, with the Russian teenager’s newfound composure fuelling her run in ‌Paris.

The 19-year-old has also shown maturity beyond her years, negotiating a politically-charged semi-final against Ukrainian ‌Marta Kostyuk to seal a 6-1, 6-3 victory on Thursday, ‌with only qualifier Maja Chwalinska standing between her and the title.

"I never actually ‌thought that I'd be able to win, I don't know, big ‌tournaments, or be in a Grand Slam final. It was just all my dreams, everything that I have been dreaming of," Andreeva told reporters.

"I would say that ‌this is, I don't know how other players ⁠think about it, but for ‌me personally, it's like the number one goal in my life. The most ​important thing. I wouldn't think I would be very close to that.

"But now I am, so I'm very excited, very ​happy about it. But at that time, I wouldn't think that it would happen."

Under coach Conchita Martinez, Andreeva has embraced clear game plans and steadily ⁠translated her talent into ​results on the biggest stages, including a run to the Roland Garros quarter-finals 12 months ago.

While she tearfully imploded in that clash with local hope Lois Boisson and earned a warning for ball abuse after launching ‌one into the stands in frustration, Andreeva has cut a more composed figure this year.

"I've been trying to work on being more calm, more positive. I'm very focused, and recently, I've been trying to do a lot of different stuff," Andreeva added.

"Maybe now I've found what's been working well for me, and I'm really trying to stick to that and do it every match that I play every time. So far it's been working very well."

That clarity has translated into a ‌sharper focus on court, and Andreeva said she was surprised by how ​well she was seeing the ball against Kostyuk, who was ‌unbeaten on clay this season before Thursday's match.

"I was so focused I could see the hairs on the ball. It's one thing when you see it for a couple of points, and another when you're able to do it throughout the match," she said.

"I'm ⁠super happy to see the ⁠result and that the work ‌we've been doing is paying off."

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