Andreeva, youngest French Open winner in 34 years, inspired by Federer

Mirra Andreeva, at 19, has become the youngest champion of the French Open in 34 years, a feat last achieved by Monica Seles in 1992. The Russian player expressed her elation in a post-match press conference, stating that the reality of winning surpasses her dreams. She cherishes the victory in Paris, a city she loves and where she speaks some French, finding the experience deeply special.

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For to be honest, I did a lot of visualizations. Not only for this tournament, but I had a lot of dreams, a lot of thoughts about how it was going to happen, if it was going to happen, when and where. But the feeling in real life is much better than in dreams. It's incredible to look at this trophy and realize that it's real, and that I can call myself a Grand Slam champion.

Andreeva revealed that managing her nerves was crucial, especially in the tournament's latter stages. She consulted with her psychologist before the semifinals and finals, employing techniques to maintain the right mindset. "She told me that we can choose who we want to be on court. I chose to be a fighter," Andreeva shared, adding that she also looked to Roger Federer's attitude for inspiration.

Discussing her final opponent, Diana Shnaider, Andreeva acknowledged her strong performance throughout the tournament. Despite initial nervousness due to not having played Shnaider before, Andreeva adapted her strategy, particularly to the windy conditions. She found her strategy notebook helpful for navigating the match and maintaining focus.

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She told me that we can choose who we want to be on court. I chose to be a fighter. I also watched Roger play a lot, and I wanted to take inspiration from his attitude. I wanted to give a good image on court and fight.

She also highlighted the significance of her partnership with coach Conchita Martinez, calling their shared victory "very special." Martinez's pride in Andreeva's achievement meant a great deal. The young champion also shared a moment of joy with Martinez's dog, who was present earlier in the week.

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It's very special to share this first title with her. We worked a lot together, we had difficult and happy moments. She told me she was proud of me, and that means a lot.