Andreeva comes of age to win French Open and end Chwalinska fairytale
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Russian, 19, beats world No 114 6-3, 6-2 for first slam title
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Maja Chwalinska fails to emulate Emma Raducanu’s feats
Twenty minutes into the first grand slam final of her young career, it looked as if Mirra Andreeva’s head was already in danger of exiting Court Philippe-Chatrier. Between the weight of the occasion, the tough windy conditions and a resourceful opponent seemingly built to cause her maximum anguish, the 19-year-old looked hindered by tension.
Her reaction to the pressure underlined the work the Russian has put into addressing her emotional vulnerabilities. Andreeva maintained her composure, coolly problem-solving and then flourishing after a tense start as she ended the qualifier Maja Chwalinska’s historic run with a 6-3, 6-2 victory.