Mirra Andreeva matches Maria Sharapova’s incredible feat as the Russian prodigy qualifies for the fourth round at Wimbledon

Russia's 17-year-old tennis prospect Mirra Andreeva has booked her place in the round of 16, becoming the first player since Maria Sharapova to do so.

Mirra Andreeva matches Maria Sharapova’s incredible feat as the Russian prodigy qualifies for the fourth round at Wimbledon

Mirra Andreeva(left) and Maria Sharapova(right).

There have been a lot of surprises at the historical Wimbledon Championships. This year has been no different as Russia’s 17-year-old tennis prospect Mirra Andreeva has beaten Anastasia Potapova in the third-round matchup, thereby becoming the first player since Maria Sharapova to do so.

For context, Maria Sharapova, in her debut season, went on to face Serena Williams in the final of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, with people expecting her to repeat that this year. Mirra did not even need the third and final set to register the win but won the match in straight sets by 6-2, 7-5, giving absolutely no chance for her countrywomen to come back into the match. 

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Sharapova was also the same age when she won her first Grand Slam, beating the former World No. 1 Serena Williams by 6-1, 6-4, shocking the entire world. Serena was expected to win the match easily, having emerged victorious in the previous two years. However, little did she know that she would have to succumb to the fire of the young Russian.

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This gave rise to one of the stars for the next generation, and just by the following year, Maria was the World No. 1, replacing Serena. Mirra, who is also walking in the same steps that Maria followed, has received a lot of appreciation for beating one of the top players in the world at such a young age, and she is not looking to stop anytime soon.

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Where does Mirra Andreeva go on from here?

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Mirra Andreeva in action at the ongoing Wimbledon Championships. (credits: iNews)

Mirra Andreeva made her first major appearance at a professional tournament at the Madrid Open, which took place way back in May. She made it to the round of 16 stages, beating the likes of Leylah Annie Fernandez, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Magda Linette before losing to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Playing at her first-ever Grand Slam at the Roland Garros, she took everyone by shock as she glanced her way into the third round, losing to sixth-seed Coco Gauff yet winning the first set.

Now at the Wimbledon Championships, having already booked a place in the round of 16, she is set to face 25th seed Madison Keys, who is by far the most experienced opponent she has ever faced in her career. But after beating 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova and 22nd seed Anastasia Potapova, she has made her intentions and target very clear.

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