Mirra Andreeva edges nearer to first Grand Slam as dream moves closer to reality

[p]The 19-year-old has also shown maturity beyond her years, negotiating a politically-charged semi-final against Ukrainian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]‌Marta Kostyuk[/a] to seal a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/kostyuk-m-8CZqQdSa/?mid=tMeHmEwK"]6-1, 6-3[/a] victory on Thursday, ‌with only qualifier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Maja Chwalinska[/a] standing between her and the title.[/p][p]"[b]I never actually ‌thought that I'd be able to win, I don't know, big ‌tournaments, or be in a Grand Slam final. It was just all my dreams, everything that I have been dreaming of[/b]," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a] told reporters.[/p][p]"[b]I would say that ‌this is, I don't know how other players ⁠think about it, but for ‌me personally, it's like the number one goal in my life. The most ​important thing. I wouldn't think I would be very close to that[/b].[/p][p]"[b]But now I am, so I'm very excited, very ​happy about it. But at that time, I wouldn't think that it would happen[/b]."[/p][embed guid="e5ce7760-9435-4f06-bf25-c6c7bca1e97b" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJU8g4Jxqrc" social-type="youtube" /][p]Under coach Conchita Martinez, Andreeva has embraced clear game plans and steadily ⁠translated her talent into ​results on the biggest stages, including a run to the Roland Garros quarter-finals 12 months ago.[/p][p]While she tearfully imploded in that clash with local hope [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/boisson-lois/KYHXSqUN/"]Lois Boisson[/a] and earned a warning for ball abuse after launching ‌one into the stands in frustration, Andreeva has cut a more composed figure this year.[/p][p]"[b]I've been trying to work on being more calm, more positive. I'm very focused, and recently, I've been trying to do a lot of different stuff[/b]," Andreeva added.[/p][p]"[b]Maybe now I've found what's been working well for me, and I'm really trying to stick to that and do it every match that I play every time. So far it's been working very well[/b]."[/p][p]That clarity has translated into a ‌sharper focus on court, and Andreeva said she was surprised by how ​well she was seeing the ball against Kostyuk, who was ‌unbeaten on clay this season before Thursday's match.[/p][embed guid="d9653ac2-51e4-40c0-bc66-a60daf2e57cf" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIMja4zoobo&t=1s" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]I was so focused I could see the hairs on the ball. It's one thing when you see it for a couple of points, and another when you're able to do it throughout the match[/b]," she said.[/p][p]"[b]I'm ⁠super happy to see the ⁠result and that the work ‌we've been doing is paying off[/b]."[/p]