Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams among stars who honor science achievement at Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

The 16-year-old’s next goal is a practice with Ons Jabeur after winning her first-ever major main draw match against Alison Riske-Amritraj before charming the media in her post-match press conference.

ByDavid Kane

Published May 30, 2023

WATCH: Mirra Andreeva's interview for the ages

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PARIS—Mirra Andreeva took a good luck charm into her first Grand Slam main draw: a text from idol Andy Murray.

“After he won a challenger, I texted him,” she revealed on Tuesday. “I said, ‘Congratulations.’ He actually answered me, so I was really happy about it. He said, ‘Thank you, and good luck in Roland Garros.’ Maybe that's why I'm playing that good now!”

It looks to have paid off as she surges into the second round of Roland Garros, channeling her momentum from qualifying to dispatch Alison Riske-Amritraj, 6-2, 6-1.

The 16-year-old, who trains in France, burst on the scene less than a month ago with an emphatic run to the Mutua Madrid Open fourth round—where she made her admiration for the former world No. 1 known to the tennis world.

“You see Andy Murray... you see his face and he’s so beautiful in life,” she smiled during her TC Live Desk interview. “He’s so amazing!”

Murray responded with on-brand self-deprecation.

"Imagine how good she’s going to be when she gets her eyes fixed," he tweeted later that day.

Andreeva is quickly making in-roads on the WTA tour, next aiming to secure a practice with two-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur—in whose game Andreeva sees a few similarities with her own.

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A post shared by ☺︎︎ Mirra Andreeva ☺︎︎ (@_mirraandreeva_)

“I met her because my coaches, they are in pretty good relationship with her coach,” she explained in her post-match press conference. “So, yes, I met her a couple of times here. We just say hi to each other.

“That's it, yet…just for this moment! I hope it will change. Maybe we can hit sometime.”

Andreeva, who learned she shares a name with a famed Indian poet Mirra Alfassa in press, hopes more experience will help her better compete with the game’s best: her Madrid run ended in rather emphatic fashion against world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

“Honestly, she kicked my ass,” she exclaimed. “I'm sorry, but she really did!

At that time I didn't really have time to think between the points and during the points because she was playing really fast. So maybe I could just maybe change rhythm more, but it was a good match for me.

“I guess it was a good lesson if I'm here now. Maybe if I will play her, then I can take revenge. Who knows? So, we will see.”

Andreeva’s revenge tour continues on Thursday against French youngster Diane Parry.