18-year-old Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva secured her place in the French Open quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over Daria Kasatkina on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Roland Garros. The sixth-seeded Andreeva, showcasing her growing prowess on the clay courts, defeated the 17th-ranked Kasatkina, who recently adopted Australian citizenship, 6-3, 7-5 in a match that lasted one hour and 34 minutes. This triumph marks Andreeva as the youngest player to reach back-to-back French Open quarterfinals since Martina Hingis in 1998, solidifying her status as one of tennis’s brightest young stars.
The match, played on Court Suzanne Lenglen, was a tactical battle between two players familiar with each other’s games, having practiced together frequently and met once before in the 2024 Ningbo Open final, where Kasatkina emerged victorious. This time, however, Andreeva turned the tables, displaying remarkable composure and precision. The first set saw Andreeva capitalize on a crucial break in the eighth game, as Kasatkina’s backhand went long, allowing the teenager to close out the set 6-3 with an assured service game. Her groundstrokes, marked by depth and accuracy, put consistent pressure on Kasatkina, who struggled to find her rhythm early on.
The second set proved more competitive, with Kasatkina, a former Roland Garros semifinalist in 2022, showing her fighting spirit. Down 3-1, she battled back to lead 5-3 and earned a set point at 5-4, threatening to force a decider. Andreeva, however, remained unfazed. Demonstrating the mental resilience that has become a hallmark of her game, she fended off the set point and reeled off four consecutive games to clinch the set 7-5. A mishit return that left Kasatkina flat-footed and a ruthless cross-court winner were among the highlights of Andreeva’s comeback, thrilling the Paris crowd.
Andreeva’s performance was all the more impressive given her history at Roland Garros, where she reached the semifinals in 2024, stunning second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. This year, she has yet to drop a set in the tournament, with no opponent managing to win more than five games in any set. Her victory over Kasatkina, a seasoned player known for her consistency and clay-court prowess, underscores Andreeva’s ability to compete at the highest level. The teenager’s blend of power, defensive skills, and tactical acumen has drawn comparisons to Kasatkina herself, with commentators noting Andreeva’s more aggressive style as a key differentiator.
Kasatkina, competing in her first Grand Slam as an Australian after switching allegiances from Russia earlier this year, expressed pride in being the last Australian standing among the 16 starters in the singles draw. Despite the loss, she showed moments of brilliance, particularly in the second set, where her gritty play pushed Andreeva to the limit. The match concluded with an emotional embrace at the net, reflecting the mutual respect and friendship between the two players, who have shared lighthearted moments off the court, including Andreeva’s appearances in Kasatkina’s popular vlogs.
Andreeva now advances to face either third seed Jessica Pegula or French wildcard Lois Boisson for a coveted spot in the semifinals. With top players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in the opposite half of the draw, Andreeva’s path to her first Major final remains challenging but achievable. Her performance against Kasatkina, described by Andreeva herself as “a hell of a match,” has only heightened expectations for her campaign in Paris.