A day after advancing through French Open qualifying and securing her spot in the first major main draw of her career, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva was approached by a familiar face on the grounds at Roland Garros. «Hi, I'm Coco,» the woman said. «I don't think we've ever met before but congratulations.» Andreeva later laughed about the interaction with Coco Gauff — the 2022 French Open runner-up who needed no introduction — during an interview on the Tennis Channel, but she was clearly thrilled.
The two even practiced together that day, trading serves and backhands in front of a sparse group of fans on an outer court.
Andreeva was impressed by how nice Gauff was, in addition to her speed and aggressive playing style. Afterward, Gauff called her a «great player.» Since bursting onto the scene last month at Madrid behind stunning victories and endearing interviews, Andreeva has increasingly become a player to watch.
And on Saturday, she'll have the biggest chance of her young career to prove she's the real deal, with a third-round clash against Gauff.