Mirra Andreeva pulled off the biggest upset of the French Open 2024 by beating the world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-final of the women's singles on Wednesday, June 5. The Russian youngster reached the semi-final of any major for the first time in her bid for her maiden Grand Slam title.
Andreeva, 17, registered a stunning 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over Sabalenka to become the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist since 1997. With a win, Mirra also achieved her career-best WTA singles ranking of 30 as she enjoyed a rapid rise in the tennis world in 2024.
Mirra made the headlines after reaching the pre-quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open in January 2024. She famously knocked out the no.6 seed Ons Jabeur in the second round at the Australian Open and now shocked everyone by beating Sabalenka.
"I really tried not to focus on the score, and when it was the second match point for me, I was trying to imagine I was saving a break point, so I was trying to play brave and I managed to win!" Andreeva said after defeating Sabalenka.
Andreeva has yet to register a title win at any ATP-level tournament but has remarkably reached the fourth round in three of her five majors so far. She will next face Jasmine Paolini in the semifinal at Philippe-Chatrier tomorrow.
Paolini, seed no.12, stunned Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinal earlier today. The Italian star registered an impressive 6-2. 4-6, 6-4 win against the world no.4 to reach the semifinal of any Grand Slam for the first time. In the first women's singles semifinal, the world no.1 and the defending champion Iga Swiatek will meet the USA star Coco Gauff.
With Jannik Sinner securing the last-four finish in the men's singles, Paolini's surprise entry in the women's singles semifinal will mark up the first occasion of two Italians reaching the semifinal of any Grand Slam in the same year.
