Australian Open Surprise: Teen Mirra Andreeva Dominates Wimbledon Runner-Up Jabeur

Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva, just 16 years old, delivered a stunning performance to defeat sixth seed Ons Jabeur in less than an hour at the Australian Open’s second round on Wednesday. In her debut at Melbourne Park, Andreeva showcased electrifying skills to overpower Jabeur, a three-time major finalist, with a score of 6-0, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena in a mere 54 minutes.

Ranked 47th in the world, this victory marked Andreeva’s first triumph over a top-10 player. She first gained attention when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last year as a qualifier. Andreeva admitted to being nervous before the match, as she has been greatly inspired by Jabeur and her style of play, having followed her matches even before joining the WTA tour.

During the match, Andreeva felt she played exceptionally well in the first set, exceeding her own expectations. She aimed to simply enjoy playing on the grand court for the second time and succeeded in doing so.

Andreeva had previously played on the centre court during last year’s girls’ final, where she was defeated by fellow Russian Alina Korneeva. She noted her growth in maturity over the year, which she believes is evident in her court presence.

The first set saw Andreeva dominate Jabeur in just 20 minutes. Jabeur, aged 29, struggled throughout, winning only eight points in six games and making 10 unforced errors. Her serve was particularly weak, with only 38 percent of first serve points won and a mere 13 percent on the second serve.

Jabeur, who has reached the Wimbledon finals twice and the US Open final once, managed to hold her serve at the beginning of the second set, signaling a brief moment of celebration. However, Andreeva maintained her momentum, breaking Jabeur’s serve for a 2-1 lead, then extending it to 4-1, as Jabeur’s chances dwindled.

Andreeva made her Grand Slam debut at the French Open last year, reaching the third round after qualifying, followed by her Wimbledon performance. In her only other Grand Slam appearance, she exited in the US Open’s second round, losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

Mirra, whose sister Erika Andreeva is also a professional tennis player, prepared for the Australian Open by reaching her first WTA Tour quarter-final at the Brisbane International.