Andreeva says maiden Grand Slam surpassed expectations, hungry for more success

[p]The 19-year-old dismantled Polish qualifier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Maja ‌Chwalinska[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/chwalinska-m-OIxOD54s/?mid=dddfTkHb"]6-3, 6-2[/a] to become the youngest French Open champion in more than three decades and ‌the first teenager to win the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] ‌in 2020.[/p][p][b]"I'll be honest, I've done a lot of visualisations before. Not just this ‌tournament, but I've had dreams, I've had a lot of thoughts on ‌how it's going to happen, if it's going to happen, when it's going to happen, where,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a] told reporters.[/p][p][b]"I would say the feeling in real life is so much better, ‌obviously, than in your dreams. Yeah, it just feels ⁠looking at this trophy and realising ‌that this is actually true, and I can call myself a Grand Slam champion."[/b][/p][embed guid="f91b571e-dc37-47ed-a9a1-5bf4183bb936" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVWjACQ11-Y&t=425s" social-type="youtube" /][p]Andreeva ​said winning her first Grand Slam in Paris made the milestone even more special.[/p][p][b]"I always said that it wouldn't matter to me. A ​Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. Whatever comes first, I'll be super happy with it,"[/b] she added.[/p][p][b]"I kind of feel pretty happy that Paris came ⁠first, because I love playing ​on clay. I have played almost all my life on the surface. I also speak a little bit of French.[/b][/p][p][b]"So I felt like this would be the perfect first Grand Slam for me to come, and so super happy that it ‌happened here."[/b][/p][p]Even as she savoured the moment in Paris, Andreeva said her thoughts were already drifting towards the next big opportunity on grasscourts, with Wimbledon set to begin on June 29.[/p][p][b]"These feelings are extra special. Now I'm already thinking of how I'm going to prepare for the grass season, how I'm going to play grass tournaments,"[/b] Andreeva said.[/p][embed guid="fd25a562-ade0-410f-95fa-f9b81d0997a9" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2063305442026037535" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I feel like this thing is a little bit addictive, and I really want to do my best to experience all of this for the second time."[/b][/p][p]Andreeva's partnership with coach Conchita Martinez has ‌gathered momentum ever since they began working together in 2024, and the ​Russian added she was delighted that it had resulted in a Grand ‌Slam title.[/p][p][b]"It's very special to share a first Grand Slam trophy with her. We've done a lot of work together on the court and off the court,"[/b] Andreeva added.[/p][p][b]"We've also been through so many good moments and some bad moments, especially, I'd say, at the end of last ⁠year. Also, she told me she's ⁠proud of me. To hear ‌those words from her is very special to me."[/b][/p]