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5 months ago
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The 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva is into the first of what will surely be many Grand Slam semi-finals after beating a visibly unwell Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open.
The Russian prodigy – who won her first match on tour aged just 15 – won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. She is the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist for 27 years, since Martina Hingis at the US Open, and will play Jasmine Paolini in Thursday’s semi-final, after the Italian upset world No 4 Elena Rybakina.
When Andreeva executed on her second match point, she reacted with a modest fist-pump – clearly so zoned in she did not realise she had just won the match. Once the realisation dawned on her she flung both arms into the air.
‘I really tried to focus,’ she explained afterwards, ‘and when it was match point I tried to imagine I was saving a break point instead - I tried to play brave.
‘Me and my coach had a “plan” today but I didn’t remember anything!’
Mira Andreeva has booked a spot in her first Grand Slam final after victory on Philippe Chatrier
World No2 Aryna Sabalenka looked unsettled from the off as she battled illness on the court
During a medical timeout the Belarusian attempted to settle her stomach, and clung on well
It was clear from the start that all was not well with world No2 Sabalenka. She hit four double faults in the first two games and looked generally lacking in her usual ferocious energy.
The 26-year-old Belarusian still managed to take a 3-1 lead against a nervy Andreeva but began clutching her stomach, grimacing and looking at times as if she might throw up on the Philippe Chatrier clay.
It looked at one stage as if she might pull out but at 3-4 down she called for the doctor and was given some pills. By an incredible force of will she dragged herself into a tiebreak and won it 7-5.
Most players would have collapsed but Sabalenka’s enormous natural power at least gave her a chance of blasting some winners – in any rally that went beyond a few strokes she was a dead loss.
It was a difficult situation for a player of Andreeva’s limited experience to manage. She struggled at times to strike the right balance between playing her natural attacking game and just keeping the ball in against a neutered opponent.
Even far from her best, Sabalenka's forceful play gave Andreeva a lot of food for thought
The 17-year-old battled capably to suppress her opponent's dominant hitting on Wednesday
After conceding the second set, Sabalenka struggled to keep up with Andreeva in the third
But she played the big points well enough to take the second set. Sabalenka was given some more pills by the doctor and a can of coke by her team, presumably an attempt to settle her stomach.
At times she had to resort to chipping the ball back rather than her usual full-blooded forehand and her serve speed was well down.
The one shot she seemed able to hit close to normally was the backhand down the line and a few searing winners on that side kept her in the third set.
Serving at 4-5, deuce, Sabalenka duffed a drop shot and Andreeva had her first match point. But she couldn’t get enough depth on the return and Sabalenka hammered it away.
Andreeva had two match points before she stunned the two-time Australian Open champion
The teenager pounced to snatch victory from Sabalenka - who has been in imperious form - and was rewarded with a swing at the title
A backhand winner from Andreeva gave her another chance and this time she flicked a superb lob over a stranded Sabalenka.
It was wretched luck for Sabalenka, who has been utterly imperious in the Grand Slams this season – she had not dropped a set in winning January’s Australian Open and reaching the quarters here.
Once she recovers from whatever was troubling her stomach here, you can bet she will be back with a vengeance at Wimbledon.
English (US)