Mirra Andreeva’s fairytale season continued Sunday when the 16-year-old reached the Wimbledon fourth round, inspired by Grand Slam warrior Rafael Nadal.
Andreeva, who came through qualifying and is playing her first senior grass-court tournament, de-feated 22nd-seeded compatriot Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5.
The key part of the match came when she had to fight back from 1-4 down to 4-4 in the second set.
She then saw seven break points come and go in the ninth game before she gathered herself to reel off the next three games for victory.
She credited her fighting spirit to Nadal, a 22-time major winner and celebrated chaser of lost causes.
“I was really impressed when Rafa came back after an injury, he won the Australian Open in 2022, he won French Open,” she explained.
“I can say that mental-wise I just try sometimes to copy him. —AFP
