Mirra Andreeva calls out former French Open champion immediately after lifting trophy | Tennis | Sport

Mirra Andreeva jokingly called out former French Open champion Mary Pierce for beating her own coach in the final here 26 years ago. The teenager claimed a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, beating qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2, and it was Pierce who presented her with the trophy.

But the No. 8 seed didn’t know whether she wanted to thank Pierce, given that the Frenchwoman defeated Conchita Martinez to lift this title in 2000. While Martinez was never able to win Roland Garros, she was in Andreeva’s corner to watch her protegee go one better this year.

In a tournament full of upsets, Andreeva didn’t falter as she lifted the biggest title of her career, aged just 19. Competing in her first Grand Slam final, she needed just an hour and 22 minutes to beat surprise finalist Chwalinska, only showing signs of nerves once, as she was broken when serving for it.

The Russian went straight to her box, embracing her coach, former world No. 2 Martinez, who finished runner-up here 26 years ago. And Andreeva remained loyal to her mentor while giving her victory speech.

The newly-crowned champion made sure to thank everyone involved in the tournament, but hesitated as she addressed Pierce, who beat Martinez in that championship match.

“Thanks to FFT, Amelie [Mauresmo, tournament director]. I don’t know if I should thank you, Mary, because you beat my coach once here in the final!” Andreeva laughed. “But yeah, I’m joking, of course. Thank you so much.

“Thank you for making this tournament very, very cosy and comfortable, very special for me, personally. I’ve been watching Roland Garros on TV since I was very, very young, so it’s also a big dream of mine to win this tournament, and I honestly cannot believe that I’m holding this trophy right now, so thank you so much for making such an amazing event.

“Thank you very much to all of the ball kids, line umpires, chair umpires. I know it’s not easy to be on the court with such heat in the first week, and I don’t know, a lot of weather changes in the second week. So thank you so much for doing your best. Thank you so much for giving 100 per cent on the court, helping us feel a little bit better on the court. So thank you so much for giving your best every time.”

And the teenager, of course, had to thank Martinez for helping her become a Grand Slam champion. The retired Spanish star might have lost the final here in 2000, but she won Wimbledon in 1994, and has now helped Andreeva lift a Major trophy, too.

“Thanks to my team. I know I can be a tough cookie sometimes, and it’s pretty hard to put up with me as well, [on] certain days, Thank you very much for pushing me to my limits. Thank you for making me work, even when I don’t want to work. You always push me,” she added.

“Thanks to Conchita, especially, for sharing her experience, giving me so many advices. Thanks, I’m not gonna thank every one of you, because I think that’s too much! But thanks to every single one of you, my team, who support me. I will, though, say a special thanks to my parents for always supporting me, and always believing in me. My dad is currently watching on TV, so thank you so much for always being there for me, and supporting me no matter what.”

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