Mirra, Mirra, On the Wall, Who’s the Mightiest of Us All?

Bill Simons

The Russian generational talent, Mirra Andreeva, did it!

With her superb technique, easy power, fluid movement and unflinching will, she lifted her first Slam trophy, Roland Garros’ Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

But this week her opponent won something else – our hearts. Yes, 5’ 5” Maja Chwalinska is short – and today she fell short. But she lifted spirits high.

The lowest-ranked player to make it to the French final came to Paris having won just two main draw matches. Her name was both unknown and a considerable tongue twister – “Hva-LEEN-ska.” She had few fans, a triple-digit ranking, no clothes contract, a bank account on the brink and a hotel bill that needed to be paid.

Now her ranking has soared from No. 114 to No. 21, and with her $1.62 million paycheck  she’ll be able to check into the grandest of hotels.

Before our eyes, the coal miner’s daughter dug deep and made the argument that guile, spontaneity and creativity are more appealing than broad-shouldered players blasting groundies from the baseline.

Plus, Maja’s backstory inspires: working class parents, early wins with Iga Swiatek, who later soared while she floundered, knee surgery, can’t-get-out-of-bed depression, and long slogs in the backwaters of the game.

Now tennis wondered: could Cinderella pull “an Emma” – Emma Raducanu’s mind-boggling 2021 run from qualifying to a Slam championship?

No.

Today, Andreeva’s storm was too much. The long-simmering phenom, in her fourth season, proved her pedigree.

Sure, the wunderkind who signed up for pro tennis at 11 and was seen as a can’t-miss prospect doesn’t quite have the dazzle of Russia’s greatest prodigy, Maria Sharapova, who won Wimbledon at 17 in 2004. Like many a teen, she can be moody. She’ll pout, and yell at her patient, savvy coach, Concita Martinez, or shock a woman in pearls when she walks out of Indian Wells and tells the crowd to “Go f–k off.”

But Mirra was on her best behavior in Paris. On a blustery day, she took the wind out of Chwalinska’s sails – she broke magic Maja’s wand.

Yes, the Pole on occasion hit marvelous lob winners or a delicate drop shot. But more often she fought her nerves or the incessant wind, struggled with her ball toss, suffered untimely double faults and was punished on her second serve. After three weeks of battle and some 15 hours of play, her slices had little sizzle, her spark had dulled. The roar of Poles in the arena fell on deaf ears.

And Mirra, after dealing with nerves of her own and a cautious start, gave us a master class, as she scored yet another lopsided win, 6-3, 6-2 in 1:22, to become the youngest player to win Roland Garros since another Euro-genius with a narrow face, Monica Seles, in 1991.

Here today was modern tennis’ answer to Chris Evert: soft hands, laser focus, gifted groundies, small steps and a big future.

Simply put, Mirra hit through the wind and breezed to victory. Her crafted-in-heaven backhand proved hellish for Maja. The Pole netted volleys. Her forehand seemed to fly to Belgium.

Mirra didn’t blink. The Cannes resident with the can-do confidence demolished Maya’s modest serve. During the awards ceremony, Andreeva spoke three languages – English, French and Russian – but her body language sent a singular message: “This is my day, this is on my terms. I will not falter.”

The Russian moved swiftly and played within herself as she showed why she’s claimed big titles from Indian Wells to Dubai, and has the most wins on the circuit this year.

Once the final settled in at 3-3 in the first set, Andreeva showed her easy power and her flowing movement, as her big-match experience efficiently kicked into gear, and she won nine of the last eleven games.

Analysts soon asked, “Can this kid possibly become a legend?”

Now No. 6 in the world, Mirra is surveying a WTA landscape that just maybe she might, on some distant day, rule. After all, Serena Williams and Australia’s one-time flash, Ash Barty, are long gone. Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance is not seamless. Iga Swiatek has been wobbling, Elena Rybakina is up and down, and Coco Gauff has wrinkles in her game that she finds hard to iron out.

So, who knows what glories are in store for Mirra Aleksandrovna Andreeva? Her coach says there is much room for improvement, “we have to be humble.”

As for today, the gracious champ with the baby face offered her go to acceptance speech that she borrowed from Snoop Dog.

With a glint in her eye and no signs of narcissism, she proclaimed, “I want to also thank myself for believing in myself, always giving 100%, even when it’s tough. Trying everyday to be better as a person, and a player, believing I can do this, fighting with so many demons inside of me. Only I know how tough it is for me and how nervous I was throughout these two weeks. So thanks to myself for working so hard and giving my best.”