‘Didn’t give me a chance’ – Coco Gauff defeat handed Mirra Andreeva stark reality check that transformed 18-year-old
Mirra Andreeva is a different player than she was two years ago, but once more came up just short.
At just 16 years old, Andreeva battled Coco Gauff for the first time at the French Open in 2023.
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She lost in three sets.
Andreeva, having just turned 18, faced off against Gauff on clay for the first time in two years, in the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open.
Gauff won the match in straight sets, and is now is chasing her first final in Madrid, as well as her first clay court singles final since 2022, with a clash with familiar adversary Iga Swiatek set for Thursday.
The Russian star reflected on the last time she met her American rival on the surface, noting that she didn't have much of a chance.
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“Last time I faced her [Gauff] on clay was Roland Garros 2023,” Andreeva commented.
“The first set was tight, but the rest of the match was like ehhh. She didn’t give me a chance.
"But it was two years ago, so I’m just super excited to not take revenge but to see how different I play. I think it’s going to be an entertaining match."
Andreeva may not be the wide-eyed 16-year-old anymore, but unfortunately for her, the result was the same against Gauff.
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However, that doesn't take away from the year Andreeva has had.
She has been on an upward trajectory, collecting wins all over the WTA Tour in the last few years, specifically at the Madrid Open.
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She has won 10 matches at the event.
Since the WTA 1000 format was introduced in 2009, Andreeva is the youngest woman to win 10 matches at the same event.
And while Roland Garros in 2023 may have been the last time Andreeva and Gauff met on clay before Wednesday, it wasn't the last time they faced one another.
That would be the US Open back in 2023.
Gauff made quick work of Andreeva in two sets.
The teen still has work to do when it comes to playing against Gauff.
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But as Andreeva noted, she has come a long way since 2023.
She is currently the world No.7, while Gauff is fourth.
Andreeva is playing as well as she ever has.
She defeated world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells in March to capture back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, while becoming the youngest woman to win the tournament since Serena Williams.
That was coming off winning the Dubai Open in February.
While the world seems to be at the young Russian's fingertips, Gauff is one player she just can't seem to figure out.
Swiatek will provide the opposition for Gauff in Thursday's semi-final, who has improved against the Pole by winning their last two meetings, but she remains a nemesis particularly on clay.
Gauff lost her first seven matches to Swiatek, starting back in 2021, but won their last meeting at the United Cup earlier this year and beat her on the way to the WTA Finals title last year.
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However Swiatek is a formidable opponent on the clay courts, winning on all five occasions the pair have met on the red dirt.
Swiatek is a four-time French Open champion, winning at Roland Garros for the last three years and on every occasion during that run she has beaten Gauff on route to the final.
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