Gauff, Andreeva headline Saturday French Open slate

Coco Gauff isn’t used to being the older participant in any tennis match, however that would be the case on for her at Roland Garros this weekend.

Up subsequent for the 19-year-old American throughout thirds-round motion on Saturday is present WTA sensation Mirra Andreeva, who’s simply 16 years outdated. Andreeva was runner-up on the Aussie Open juniors earlier this season and is now taking the principle tour by storm. She reached the fourth spherical in Madrid and now the Russian finds herself within the third spherical of the French Open following a pair of straight-set wins.

Throughout a current interview with the Tennis Channel, Andreeva answered with “Coco Gauff” when requested in regards to the friendliest faces she has encountered. That got here following a observe session between the 2 teenagers.

“I’ve watched her the previous couple of weeks,” Gauff stated. “She’s clearly achieved effectively. And the observe together with her, it was observe. I feel she’s an ideal participant. She’s younger, however I don’t see age as an element, to be sincere. You need to play her as you’ll play another individual that’s grown and powerful. She’s proved her place right here and I’m going to attempt to do my finest in opposition to her.

“I’m certain she’s not enthusiastic about her age on the courtroom. And all of the individuals who’ve performed in opposition to me after I was her age, I don’t know in the event that they had been enthusiastic about my age. I doubt they had been. I really feel prefer it actually doesn’t play an element concerning after we step on the courtroom. Possibly there could possibly be an expertise factor that possibly might present, however actually I actually doubt it when it’s somebody of her stage.

“I feel she is aware of the sport effectively, and she or he’s proved her place to be right here and proved in her outcomes prior to now. So I don’t suppose the age factor issues. For me, I assume, I’ve by no means thought of my age, to be sincere. I’ve performed a few folks…I feel two occasions…this will probably be my third time taking part in somebody youthful than me. Actually the primary two occasions I didn’t even give it some thought as a result of while you step on the courtroom; you simply see your opponent and also you don’t actually take into consideration the private aspect of issues. You simply see forehand, backhand, serve, and all the identical.”

Relating to Andreeva, all of these photographs are as scary as her character is massive. With all of that expertise mixed with the spectacular outcomes over the previous few weeks, it’s no surprise that her confidence hovering lately.

“The dream,” Andreeva responded when requested on Thursday about her profession targets. “I do know that Djokovic, he [has won] 22 Grand Slams; so I wish to go till 25, if will probably be doable. I don’t know.

“However I’ll simply play. For now my objective is to win match by match; to win subsequent match. Then if I win this match, to win subsequent match once more. That’s it. Simply to win match by match.”

If Andreeva wins Saturday’s match in opposition to the 2022 French Open runner-up, the hype prepare will actually be gaining steam.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.