Mirra Andreeva’s Centre Court debut on Sunday was unforgettable. The 18-year-old Russian, one of the sport’s most promising young talents, reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal in a dazzling fashion. But her elation came after the match was not only due to winning. It was more than she fulfilled a lifelong dream that the win came in front of tennis legend Roger Federer! Andreeva stormed to a 6-2, 6-3 victory in just over an hour against World’s 10th-ranked Emma Navarro.
“I saw Roger and Mirka. Honestly, it means a lot to me that you came and watched my match. It’s been one of my dreams to see you in real life,” stated Andreeva.
However, the teenager, so focused on her rhythm and composure, failed to realize she had converted a match point. Instead of celebrating, she stepped back to prepare for another Navarro serve, until the umpire’s call and the crowd’s applause finally brought her back to reality.
Just two days earlier, after her third-round win, Andreeva was asked by the Tennis Channel who she’d most like to see watching from the Royal Box. Unable to choose just one, she named three: Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Ryan Gosling.
With Federer and his wife Mirka watching from the Royal Box, Andreeva not only delivered her most commanding Wimbledon performance to date, but did so under the watchful eye of her lifelong hero.
“I really tried my best not to look over there,” she said during her on-court interview. “I knew as soon as I looked, I would completely lose my focus. So I did – at 4-1.”
