Mirra Andreeva channels her inner Roger Federer, flips to French Open glory

Mirra Andreeva was not herself on Saturday. The version of Andreeva fans knew in her early career often lacked the emotional control needed to win consistently at the Grand Slam level.

As a teenager breaking through on the tour, she sometimes let her frustration spill over when matches got out of hand. Small lapses in momentum often produced visible irritation, whether through body language, rushed decision-making, or moments of audible self-criticism between points.

At Indian Wells earlier this year, she broke her racket and directed her frustration at the crowd during her third-round exit. She also cried after losing the Madrid Open final to Marta Kostyuk a few weeks later.

But Mirra Andreeva who took center court against Maja Chwalinská was different. She was poised, almost unshakeable, staying calm even when the momentum threatened to slip away from her. Nothing seemed to disturb her rhythm or clarity.

She was calm and composed as if in a meditative state, showing no signs of panic even as Chwalinska broke serve three times. On the big day, it almost looked like Roger Federer was taking over the court through Mirra Andreeva, the epitome of his trademark composure under pressure.

And why not? In her own way, Mirra tried to imitate her idol. The result: the first Grand Slam title.

FEDERER’S INSPIRATION

Mirra Andreeva said she was inspired by Roger Federer. Courtesy: Reuters

Federer is known for his calm, composed and ice-cold presence on court, especially in moments of high pressure. However, early in his career he admitted to being more emotional, losing control at times, throwing rackets and showing visible frustration during matches.

Over time, he worked to temper his temper and learned to channel these emotions in a more controlled and productive manner. For Mirro, Federer has always been an inspiration. Watching his composure under pressure reinforced the belief that a steady mindset can be as important to success as technical skill.

“I’ve watched a lot of Roger’s matches here. Obviously I’m never going to have the same aura – nobody’s going to have the same aura, but I wanted to try to emulate his behavior on the court because I enjoy watching him play,” Mirra said after the match.

Federer himself has described his mental approach as a balance between fire and ice: fire is his desire to win, and ice is his ability to accept mistakes and remain composed under pressure. At Roland Garros, Mirra carried the same duality, the fire in her heart to finally taste Grand Slam success and the ice in her veins to carry her over the finish line.

RESET THINKING

Mirra Andreeva changed her thinking with the help of her psychologist. Courtesy: Reuters

Curbing natural instincts is never easy, especially during adolescence when emotions tend to run high. For most players, this volatility often spills over onto the court under pressure.

For Mirr, however, the change felt less like a technical adjustment and more like an internal shift shaped by inspiration. The Russian, who has been open about her struggles with emotions on court, said her transition to a calm, controlled demeanor was driven not by tactical changes but by a deliberate choice in mindset and temperament.

“Well, I wouldn’t say there was a big reset or anything where I decided to completely change or change my approach to matches. There was nothing like that,” Mirra said.

Also read | Mirra Andreeva lifts the French Open trophy twice in funny stupidity: Watch

Her psychologist’s advice also helped Mirra immensely ahead of the high-voltage semi-finals and finals, situations she was unfamiliar with as she had never experienced success at this stage in Grand Slams before.

Mirra credited her psychologist with talking to her in 20- to 25-minute calls before both the semifinals and finals, adding that those conversations helped her unlock a stronger fighting spirit.

“I just decided that as my psychologist says, you can always choose how you’re going to be on the court and how you’re going to play and who you’re going to be as a person. So I decided to be a fighter,” Mirra said.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS NOW

Mirra Andreeva will now look to impress on the grass at Wimbledon. Courtesy: Reuters

Until Saturday, Mirra had not been a Grand Slam champion. She won the WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Dubai last year, but a Grand Slam title is a different challenge altogether. When she defeated Aryna Sabalenkova in the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2024, her clay skills were already evident.

That promise has now turned into substance two years later. Becoming the youngest player since Monika Seles in 1992 to win a French Open title underlines how far she has come since her Grand Slam debut in 2023.

But the challenge now begins. In less than a month, Mirra will enter very different conditions at Wimbledon. Grass remains an unfamiliar surface for her and she has not yet reached the quarterfinals in the tournament. She also faces the US Open later this year, a tournament where she has never made it past the third round.

The Russian teenager still has a long way to go. Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open before adding a title at Roland Garros last year, showing the value of versatility across surfaces.

Mirra is now expected to build that same adaptability and develop into a player no longer defined by emotional vulnerability or inconsistency but by resilience and control, someone who is a threat on every surface he plays on.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

07 Jun 2026 05:00 IST