ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2023

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/A. Riske-Amritraj

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Mirra, congratulations are in order. Now you have officially won your first main draw match at a Grand Slam. How does it feel?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Of course, it feels amazing for me. I'm really excited that I managed to win this match after passing quallies draw. So, of course, I'm really happy, and I'm looking forward to playing next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please, in English.

Q. After such a match and such control on the court, what were the first words of your coach just after when you saw him?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: He said -- that's actually -- he doesn't say that a lot, and he said today, I'm proud of you, you did a really good job.

They were just cheering me up, like, they were supporting me. My team, they really mean a lot to me because they're really supportive in this kind of way.

So, yes, the first thing they said, We are proud of you.

Q. You haven't dropped a set now in qualifying or the first round. You don't appear to get nervous. Do you get nervous or not particularly?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Of course, I get nervous before every match. I think it's normal. So I'm just trying to deal with it, you know.

So I actually didn't think about that idea, like, drop a set yet, but I'm just playing at the moment, and so that's it.

Q. So what's more nerve-wracking, one of your own matches or watching your sister play?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Maybe I will watch my sister if she will not play too late, but if she will play late, then I will just watch live translation, and that's it. But, of course, I will support her.

Q. Do you find that more nerve-wracking than your own matches?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, for sure, for sure. I'm really nervous when she plays.

Q. On the win it's been such a busy couple of weeks for you. I'm curious how life has changed and what has been particularly exciting or interesting about the last month for you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, I cannot say that something changed. I did a good run in Madrid, so I will just continue to work, and I was preparing for Roland Garros.

So that's it. I cannot say that something changed. I am just doing my thing day-by-day, and that's it.

Q. You were playing juniors in Australia just a couple of months ago. Are you surprised by how quickly things have a little bit changed?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I don't know. Honestly, in Australia it was tough times for me. It was a tough match. I really needed time to recover from this.

So, I guess, it was good maybe that I lost this match to be here now. I don't know. Who knows?

Yes, in Australia it was really different compared to what is happening now, so yes.

Q. I have a couple of questions. Firstly, about school. What were the subjects that you studied in school, and are you through with school? Can you just tell me that? Also, about your name. Mirra is an Indian name, so I'm curious how, you know...

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I actually didn't know that Mirra is an Indian name. I don't know. We actually need to ask my mom about that because she was choosing the names for us, so I actually didn't know, but I will check tonight maybe if it has a meaning or something.

Q. It's a famous Indian poet.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Really? Honestly, I didn't know. I will check tonight. I will.

And about school I'm in online school, Russian school, so I'm doing honestly pretty good, let's say (smiling). I will not lie, but chemistry is so bad. Chemistry for me, I don't understand anything.

But, like usual, math and English. I hope, I guess, it's not that bad. I'm not that bad.

Q. When you won the ITF in Chiasso, you said the goal for the end of the season was to enter in the top 150. You are way much deeper than that, so what's the goal now?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, now I don't have any goals. I just play. But now the first goal maybe it's to be in a major of US Open, but we will see if I can do that.

For now I guess that's it. I will just play, and we will see what will happen.

Q. Mirra, some people say that watching you on the court is like poetry, so maybe your mom named you well. You have had a meteoric rise in the last year. What were you doing this time last year? What has been your experience at Roland Garros over the last week, and why do you think you're playing so well right now?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Last year I was here as a junior, and I think I couldn't even imagine that I can be here playing women's tournament here and being in a major passing qualification.

So I guess I don't know. What can I say? Of course, I'm pretty excited about it. What did you ask after?

Q. Why you are playing so well right now?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I don't know. I just play. I just play. I just don't think about it. I just try to enjoy every moment here. I'm just practicing and live my life, and that's it. I just do my things.

Q. You're still very young, but you play very mature on the court. How do you explain it?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I don't know. As I said, I am just doing what I feel is right to do on the court. Honestly, when we talk with my coaches about the plan for the match, I think about it just right before the match, but then I forget all the stuff, and I just play as I feel, and that's it.

Q. Your comments about Andy Murray went quite viral on social media. I know he is not here, which probably breaks your heart, and I'm sorry. But I'm curious if you did get a chance to meet him at all during the clay season and then you had said that you liked Ons Jabeur's game a lot as well. I'm curious if you have had a chance to meet her and if you would like to hit with her?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Of course, I would like to hit with her. Who would not like it?

Yes, I met her because my coaches, they are in pretty good relationship with her coach. So, yes, I met her a couple of times here. We just say hi to each other, and that's it, yet. Just for this moment. I hope it will change. Maybe we can hit sometime.

But I didn't see Andy Murray since Madrid because he is not here, but after he won a challenger, I texted him (laughing). 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 (smiling).

Q. What do you know about your next opponent, Diane Parry, on the court or achievements maybe?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: She was a pretty good junior player, and my sister, she was playing with her some juniors tournaments. Maybe she can give me some tips, some advices.

But I know that she has a one-handed backhand. It's not pretty usual that a girl has one-handed backhand, so she can -- she does a lot of good slices, good drop shots.

She moves well on the court, and she doesn't play really fast, I think. I don't really know the way she plays. I just saw a couple of points, but we will talk about it with my coaches, and you will see the final result on the court.

Q. You already play some amazing tennis, but what would be the upgrade you can reach in your tennis?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I think you need to ask my coach about this because me, I'm okay with everything I do now, honestly (laughing).

I don't know. Maybe -- no, I don't know what to say. I'm okay with the way I play now.

Q. I didn't get to talk to you after the Sabalenka match, and I'm just curious what you learned from that match from playing somebody of that caliber that you feel like you were able to take forward with you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, she kicked my ass. 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.

It was a good experience even though I won just four games, but 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.