Mirra Andreeva beat Emma Navarro at Wimbledon. She was the last person to realize she won
Andreeva was so focused on not thinking about the score — and avoiding looking at Roger Federer — that the 18-year-old Russian didn't grasp that the fourth-round match was over when Navarro netted a forehand.
Advertisement
So instead of celebrating a 6-2, 6-3 win, the seventh-seeded Andreeva calmly turned back to her baseline and started fiddling with her racket, seemingly getting ready for the next point.
It wasn't until she noticed the reaction from the crowd — and coach Conchita Martinez celebrating — that it dawned on her she won.
'Honestly, I just kept telling myself that I'm facing break points. I tried to tell myself that I'm not the one who is up on the score, I'm the one who is down," Andreeva said in an on-court interview. 'In the end I completely forgot the score. I'm happy that I did it because I think that (otherwise) I would be three times more nervous on the match point.'
Andreeva became the youngest player since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007 to reach the women's quarterfinals at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Advertisement
The score wasn't the only thing Andreeva tried to ignore. She was also afraid to look up at the Royal Box, where eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer was sitting with his wife Mirka.
'I really tried my best not to look over there in the box, because I knew that as soon as I would look there I would just completely lose my focus,' she said, before addressing the couple directly. 'Honestly, it means a lot to me that you came and watched my match. It's been one of my dreams to see you in real life. So when I saw both of you I got really, really nervous."
The No. 10-seeded Navarro beat defending champion Barbora Krejcikova in the previous round, ensuring there will be yet another first-time champion. It will be the ninth different women's champion in the past nine Wimbledons. Serena Williams was the last repeat champ in 2016.
Andreeva will next face Belinda Bencic, who also reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal — 11 years after making her debut at the All England Club. Bencic beat 18th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 6-4 earlier on No. 1 Court.
Advertisement
Bencic, who lost in the fourth round on three previous occasions, failed to convert five match points while serving at 5-3 in the second set. But on the sixth one, Alexandrova sent a forehand long.
'For you guys it was entertaining,' Bencic said about that marathon game at 5-3, where Alexandrova finally converted her fourth break point to stay in the match. 'For me it was a big stress.'
Bencic's best result at a Grand Slam was reaching the semifinals at the 2019 U.S. Open, where she also reached the quarters on two other occasions. The Tokyo Olympic champion, playing at Wimbledon for the ninth time, had not been into the last eight at any of the other three majors, until now.
Bencic missed last year's grass-court Grand Slam tournament while she was on maternity leave, having given birth to her first child — a daughter named Bella — in April 2024.
Advertisement
She said traveling with a child on tour is still relatively easy while Bella is so young, but that she's spending a lot more time taking pictures when she's at tournaments.
'I'm juggling it like every mom does,' Bencic said. 'So, props to the moms.'
Also, No. 19 Liudmila Samsonova reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-5, 7-5 on No. 2 Court.
Samsonova has yet to drop a set this tournament and will face No. 8 Iga Swiatek, who reached her second Wimbledon quarterfinal by beating Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1.
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Mattias Karén, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool's next signing is starting to unveil
Liverpool's next signing is starting to unveil and it's not Alexander Isak. Of course the Swede is still a priority target for the Reds. But his saga could drag on for a while. This doesn't mean that Liverpool won't sign him, merely that given it's a deal of huge magnitude, it's going to take a long time to iron out the details. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now But in the meantime, there is another priority area where Richard Hughes will want to add more depth to Arne Slot's squad. With Joe Gomez travelling back home from pre-season due to an injury, it has exposed a great need at centre-back for the Reds. Liverpool have already lost Jarell Quansah this summer, and they now have just two senior centre-back on tour in pre-season in Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. This has seen Slot play Luca Stephenson, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas at centre-back. It's becoming very apparent after the four goals conceded against AC Milan that this situation is not tenable going into the season. Liverpool need more depth in the centre-back positions, especially considering Konate and Gomez are both injury prone. This is therefore the obvious next transfer Hughes is going to sort out. And while the first name everyone will gravitate to is Marc Guehi, he might not be the clear choice. In fact, Liverpool may already be targeting someone else in the position, who could be an even better fit.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Where is the Lionesses' trophy parade and will there be a bank holiday?
The Euro 2025 winners will be back in England on Monday, ahead of their celebratory parade on Tuesday. The Lionesses are set for their triumphant return to the UK after their nail-biting victory over Spain in the Euros 2025 final. Chloe Kelly's final penalty on Sunday evening secured the England team's back-to-back European titles, bringing an end to a difficult tournament for the squad, which saw them playing in extra time three times in a row. After needing to recover from an opening loss to France just to make it out of the group stage, and then play 120 minutes against both Sweden and Italy to reach the final, England again came from behind on the night and went the distance as Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's opener. After seeing goalkeeper Hannah Hampton make two key saves before Kelly's winning spot-kick, manager Sarina Wiegman called it 'the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played' as the never-say-die attitude of her players again shone through. But most people will now forget the arduous journey the England team took to reach the final, with all that matters now being that they won and how they are going to celebrate. When will the Lionesses celebrate their victory? The Lionesses will return to England on Monday and will begin their celebrations with a reception at Downing Street. They will be hosted by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Players, coaches and Football Association representatives are to attend the Downing Street reception, Number 10 said. Rayner said it will be 'a privilege to celebrate' with the team, with Peacock adding that the government is 'committed to playing our part to ensure this success translates into lasting change.' The Lionesses are then set for a homecoming open-top bus parade celebration in central London on Tuesday. Fans will be invited to celebrate and show their support for Wiegman and the team as the open-top parade begins at 12.10 along The Mall. It will culminate with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace starting at 12.30pm. It will be broadcast live on the BBC, ITV and Sky between 12pm and 1pm, as well as extensive social media coverage. There will be performances by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. Will there be a bank holiday? There has been no word on a bank holiday to celebrate the England team's victory yet, despite calls from members of the public. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said an additional day off would be a great way of honouring the "stunning achievement." But when asked about it on Monday morning, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he couldn't commit to one. Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: "So there should certainly be a celebration. I can't, I'm afraid, promise a bank holiday, but there will be a reception in Downing Street today. I believe the victory parade is scheduled for tomorrow." There was no bank holiday following their victory in the 2022 tournament, nor was there one when the men's team won the 1966 World Cup. Watch: Women's Euros: Calls for extra bank holiday as Lionesses successfully defend their title
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Emmerdale makes 'last minute' change as boss says 'it felt right'
Emmerdale has revealed that it's made a 'last-minute' change to its latest episode after the long-running show's boss admitted 'it felt right'. Monday's (July 28) episode of the ITV soap, will begin with a specially filmed scene celebrating the Lionesses' momentous victory over Spain in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final. The opening of the episode will see Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) chatting with Mary Goskirk (Louise Jameson) about Sunday's (July 27) incredible football match. Viewers will also get a glimpse of the aftermath of a lively celebration at the Woolpack pub, with the disarray clearly indicating the villagers had gathered en masse to watch the Lionesses make history. This scene was a last-minute addition, filmed with the hopeful anticipation of an England win, allowing Emmerdale to capture and reflect the national excitement surrounding the Lionesses' triumph. Producer Laura Shaw said: "With the nation getting behind the Lionesses. We knew the fictional characters in Emmerdale would've been doing just the same so it felt right and proper that we should reflect this result on the show." England defended their European title after beating Spain 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday, after a dramatic tournement that saw the Lionesses fight until the very end. After needing to recover from an opening loss to France just to make it out of the group stage, and then play 120 minutes against both Sweden and Italy to reach the final, England again came from behind on the night and went the distance as Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's opener. After seeing goalkeeper Hannah Hampton make two key saves before Chloe Kelly's winning spot-kick, manager Sarina Wiegman called it 'the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played' Emmerdale air at 7.30pm weeknights on ITV1 and STV or from 7am on ITVX and STV Player.
