Australian Open 2024: 'Flawless' Mirra Andreeva 'definitely one to watch' after Ons Jabeur demolition

Published 17/01/2024 at 08:46 GMT

Laura Robson and Tim Henman saluted Mirra Andreeva after she roared into the third round at the 2024 Australian Open with a 6-0 6-2 win over sixth seed Ons Jabeur. The Russian teenager was the junior girls runner-up in Melbourne last year, while she also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, and continued her meteoric rise with the first top-10 scalp of her career against Jabeur.

'Flawless' Andreeva shock win over Jabeur impresses Robson

Mirra Andreeva was "flawless" as she dismantled three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open on Wednesday, according to Eurosport expert Laura Robson.

The 16-year-old claimed the biggest scalp of her fledgling career as she lost just two games in the demolition of her Tunisian idol.

Andreeva looks primed for a deep run in Melbourne, with unseeded Frenchwoman Diane Parry next up in the third round on Friday. Ninth seed and former Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova – who the Russian beat twice last year, including at Wimbledon – could await in round four, with second seed Aryna Sabalenka potentially lurking in the quarter-finals.

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"Her biggest weapon was her composure today because yes, the scoreline wasn’t very close and she could have maybe got nervous had it been tighter," said Robson.

"She never let it affect her. She was ripping backhands and she’s such a great mover that she’s always able to come through the longer rallies. She was willing to open up the lines so early that Ons always felt like she was on the back foot."

Jabeur arrived without playing a warm-up tournament and was often wayward from the baseline as she came under heavy fire from the Russian teenager.

"Two things were true: Mirra played a great match, flawless from start to finish, and also Ons looked a little undercooked," continued Robson.

"It wasn’t a good combination, especially for Jabeur, having not played a lead-up tournament, I felt like that was really obvious, but you have to give full credit to Andreeva, she played amazing."

'It was hardly a contest' - Henman

'She really destroyed her' - Henman says Andreeva is 'one to watch out for'

Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman was also impressed and singled Andreeva out as "definitely one to watch".

"It was hardly a contest. Jabeur’s been playing so well, she’s been in three Slam finals, but we know the capabilities of Andreeva already," he said.

"Only 16, she’s had some really good results in the Slams, and to come out on that stage and take apart a top 10 player in that type of fashion speaks volumes about not only her game, but her mentality and her belief to really destroy her.

"So she’s definitely one to watch out in this tournament and for many, many more years in the future."

Andreeva only made her Grand Slam debut at last year's French Open, losing in the third round to Coco Gauff, but is already turned heads on the WTA Tour.

"I was really nervous before the match because I am really inspired by Ons, the way she plays," said Andreeva, the runner-up in the junior girls final in Melbourne last year.

"Before I started to play on the WTA Tour I always watched her matches. I was always so inspired by the way she plays and now I had the chance to play against her.

"Honestly, in the first set, I played amazing tennis. I didn’t expect that from myself."