Teenager Mirra Andreeva's stunning run in Australian Open continues

She was down 5-1 in the final set but won five games in a row against France's Diane Parry

By Web Desk
January 19, 2024
Andreeva was out of sorts in the opening set, broken twice by Parry, who returned well and dominated from the baseline. - WTA

Mirra Andreeva kept her Australian Open dream alive with a sensational come-from-behind win to qualify for the fourth round and equal her best Grand Slam performance.

The teenage giant-killer, who is just 16, showed her massive potential by beating sixth seed Ons Jabeur in the previous round and continued that today with a win over France's Diane Parry 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/5).

She was down 5-1 in the final set but won five games in a row to leave her in a position to serve for the match at 6-5.

Parry, herself only 21, halted the surge by breaking to set up a tie-break. But the young Russian had all the momentum and imposed herself again for a remarkable victory.

She will next meet either Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova or Australian qualifier Storm Hunter.

Andreeva was out of sorts in the opening set, broken twice by Parry, who returned well and dominated from the baseline.

It was a different story in set two, with the Russian breaking in the fourth game with a passing shot before consolidating and breaking again on the way to levelling the match.

But Parry was unfazed and regained the upper hand with a break for 2-0 in the deciding set after a draining 16-shot rally.

She kept her cool to hold on through a 14-point third game and opened up a 5-1 advantage, seemingly destined for victory, only for Andreeva to surge back.

Ranked 47, the teenager made her Grand Slam bow at the French Open last year with a run to the third round after coming through qualifying.

But it was at Wimbledon where she made waves, reaching the fourth round, also as a qualifier.

In her only other Grand Slam, she lost in the second round of the US Open to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

— Additional input from AFP