PARIS (AP) — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has made headlines in the tennis world not only for her raw talent but also for her remarkable achievement at just 19 years old. She became a Grand Slam champion after defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the French Open final held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with a score of 6-3, 6-2.
This victory places Andreeva among an elite group of players, as she is now the youngest woman to win the singles title at Roland Garros since Monica Seles, who claimed her third consecutive title at the age of 18 in 1992. Following the match, Chwalinska humorously expressed her admiration for Andreeva during the awards ceremony, stating, "You're so young and talented. It's so annoying."
Chwalinska, ranked 114th, aimed to become the first qualifier ever to win the Roland Garros title. However, after executing a decisive backhand cross-court winner on her first match point, Andreeva fell to her knees on the clay, overwhelmed with emotion as she celebrated this historic moment.
During the trophy presentation, Andreeva took an unusual approach by thanking herself, stating, "for believing in myself, always giving my 100%, even when it’s tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside of me." She further elaborated on her struggles and the nerves she faced throughout the tournament, emphasizing the importance of her mental preparation.
Andreeva was born in Siberia and moved to Sochi, later settling in France to further develop her tennis skills. She captured the attention of the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier by expressing her gratitude in French, saying, "Thanks for your support today and over these past two marvelous weeks here in Paris. It was very important for me."
The women's final had taken place during a remarkable tournament, which also set the stage for the men's final featuring Alexander Zverev against Flavio Cobolli on the following day. Andreeva's rise in tennis can be traced back to her breakthrough at age 15, when she shocked the tennis circuit by competing successfully at the 2023 Madrid Open.
Throughout the tournament, Andreeva faced additional challenges due to competing under a neutral status, as her country was embroiled in the conflict with Ukraine. This situation brought added tension, especially in her semifinal match where her opponent, Marta Kostyuk, declined to shake hands, a custom adopted by Ukrainian players facing Russians since the onset of the war in 2022.
In the final match, played under partly sunny skies with some wind, Chwalinska initially took the lead, holding serve for a 3-2 advantage. However, Andreeva quickly took control, winning nine consecutive games, showcasing her ability to navigate the windy conditions and counter her opponent's mix of spins and drop shots. Ultimately, Andreeva demonstrated her prowess with a remarkable 25 winners compared to Chwalinska's 10.
Despite the strong Polish support evident in the crowd and the chanting of Chwalinska's name, Andreeva managed to rally a few supporters who cheered for her in Russian, with shouts of "Davai Mirra!" resonating towards the end of the match.
In men’s doubles, the top-seeded duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos successfully defended their title, defeating the second-seeded team of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten with a score of 6-4, 6-2.
The 2026 French Open has undoubtedly marked a pivotal moment in Andreeva's career, as she cements her place as one of the sport's rising stars.
