Eighth seed avoids second straight upset to a Frenchwoman in Paris
Mirra Andreeva has snuffed out any threat of a repeat upset from the last time she met a French wildcard in Paris, handling the heat to dismiss Fiona Ferro 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round.
The 19-year-old’s previous visit to Court Philippe-Chatrier ended in despair when she succumbed to 361st-ranked Lois Boisson and a vociferous Parisian crowd in the quarterfinals last year.
Having admitted to being overwhelmed on that court a year ago, pre-Slam nerves were to be expected as she prepared to walk back into the same arena.
Fortunately for her, however, any doubts were laid to rest in a 6-3, 6-3 result.
“I would say that it was not strange. I was kind of excited because I thought that maybe they put me on Lenglen or maybe Simonne-Mathieu, and then when I saw the schedule and I was playing on Chatrier, I was kind of pretty happy with that,” Andreeva said.
“The only thing I was a little bit worried about, I was hoping that the stadium wouldn't be too full, too packed today, because obviously that would have been a little bit harder.
“But I felt like people were encouraging both of us today on the court, and I was very happy with that, as well. I was just super excited to come back to this court. And being able to win the match on the first day of a Slam is super special.”
The eighth seed cut a more composed figure on the same arena this time round and never gave the former world No.39 or her wishful home fans much of a look-in.
True to her vow to handle the occasion and an opponent’s home crowd better next time, Andreeva’s 19 winners – 10 of those from her forehand – helped keep the 29-year-old at bay.
“When I saw the draw that I'm going to play against Fiona, she's a very difficult opponent to play against and I've practised with her a lot a couple of years ago,” Andreeva said. “The last match that we played against each other was three years ago and I won in three sets, but that was an unbelievable battle.
“So I knew that obviously [the French crowd was] also going to do everything to give her a lot of support and she played great today and I'm just super happy with the win.”
It had been a stop-start past two years due to injuries for Ferro, who had not won a match in Paris since 2021. Back in the top 200 following a WTA 125 title in Portugal on clay, the Frenchwoman was chasing her first win over a top-10 opponent.
Despite briefly threatening to push Andreeva off course in the second set, she was ultimately unable to make any significant inroads against her younger foe.
Andreeva, the 2024 semifinalist, was determined to avoid any risk of a drawn-out affair on a steamy afternoon and extended her tour-leading wins on clay this year to 16.
“Sometimes I get tense, but today I just told myself, ‘I don't know, whatever happens, happens’. I got a little bit tentative, a little bit tense at 4-1, three double faults, a lot of mistakes, and obviously she started to hit winners, and I kept making mistakes again.
“I just told myself that it's also not easy to come back, so I was like, 'If she comes back and I continue playing so-so then okay good for her’, but I just told myself that I'm just gonna try to do what I can for every point. I'm super happy that it didn't go to 4-all or to the third set.”
Andreeva awaits Colombian Emiliana Arango or Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera in the second round.
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
