Emma Raducanu 'disturbs' Mirra Andreeva as Russian wonderkid ignores Wimbledon noise

Mirra Andreeva insists she would be "disturbed" if she started thinking about Emma Raducanu. The 16-year-old qualifier became the second youngest woman since Maria Sharapova in 2003 to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon when she beat no. 22 seeded Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 7-5 on Court 3.

But she avoids comparison with the 18-year-old Briton who qualified from the US Open in 2021 to lift the trophy in New York. "Of course she did an amazing job," Andreeva said. “Everyone was impressed. She was also impressive to pass the qualifications and win the slam at 18 years old. It's amazing.

"But I just try not to think about it. I think it's going to bother me, all these thoughts. I just try to play every game and I don't think how far I've come or what round am I playing, or even who am I playing against."

Psst! It's Madison Keys, by the way - a superpower contest between the United States and Russia. Not that Andreeva necessarily wants to be seen as the flag bearer of her homeland in a year in which the All England Lawn Tennis Club was reluctantly forced to accept players from her country, even as the war continues. to rage in Ukraine.

"I felt no recrimination," she said wisely. "I only play tennis." On the contrary, Andreeva urges with a wise smile but with an inner inflexibility, she must be treated like any other teenage girl.

"Actually, I'm like a normal girl," Andreeva said. “I do everything girls my age do. I love watching series – most of my free time I just watch Netflix – at least I'm being honest! Off the pitch, I'm still 16, and sometimes I can be like a kid. I can complain about some things.

"On the court, I just try to think about the tennis, the game, the next point. But off the court, I'm different. Oh, and I have to go to school, I don't have I have no choice - I have to suffer another two years, and that's it!"

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"But most of the time I watch Netflix. To be fair, at least I'm honest. She doesn't shy away from preferring her own company and in that respect seems extraordinarily self-sufficient.

Failing that, however, her extended family in Russia are there to lend a hand when needed, especially since they were all together to celebrate the birthday of Andreeva's grandfather, Petr.

"Today is especially my grandfather's birthday," said Andreeva. "They were watching my game, like 50 people they invited. Today I got a lot more support, a lot more nice messages from my family."