Mirra Andreeva Wins Maiden Grand Slam Title at Roland Garros 2026

By Emily Salley, BBC Sport journalist

Mirra Andreeva expressed her gratitude to herself as she lifted her maiden Grand Slam trophy at the 2026 Roland Garros in Paris, France, on June 6, 2026.

Following her dominant 6-3 and 6-2 victory over Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, the 19-year-old became the youngest woman to win the Roland Garros singles title since Monica Seles in 1992.

Andreeva began by thanking Chwalinska, then shifted her appreciation to the tournament organizers and her team, including her coach, former French Open finalist Conchita Martinez.

However, Andreeva saved her final and most significant thank you for herself.

'I also want to thank myself for believing in myself,' she stated.

'For giving 100% even when it's tough, for working every day to be a better person and player, for believing I could do this, despite all the demons inside me.'

Andreeva has been thanking herself after many of her title wins, a phrase she borrowed from rapper Snoop Dogg.

Initially, she said it to make people laugh, but then she realized, 'Why not thank myself? I'm the one doing the work, I'm the one feeling all the nerves.'

Andreeva's slogan was written on the front and back of her black jacket.

The 'big stop sign' that helped her overcome emotional outbursts

As the world's top junior tennis player, Andreeva had long been tipped for Grand Slam success.

However, she was sometimes hindered by emotional outbursts on the court that distracted her from the game at hand.

Last year, Andreeva erupted in a quarterfinal loss at Roland Garros against home favorite Lois Boisson, while a few months ago, she smashed her racket and swore at the crowd in Indian Wells.

Such behavior was not seen at this year's Roland Garros.

In fact, even in the final, when Chwalinska's uncertainty was compounded by windy conditions, Andreeva remained calm to deliver a highly mature performance.

Andreeva's psychologist, Alexis Castorri, who previously worked with Andy Murray, told her to 'imagine a big stop sign' when her emotions were about to get the better of her.

'My psychologist said that you can always choose how you're going to be on the court, how you're going to play, and who you're going to be as a person. I decided to choose to be a fighter,' she said.

'I watched a lot of Roger's matches here. Nobody will have the same aura, but I really wanted to try to mimic the way he behaves on the court.'

'Maybe that helped me because I wanted to look good on the court, not be frustrated or unhappy with the way I was playing.'

Mirra Andreeva and Conchita Martinez began working together in 2024.

'Very special' to share victory with coach Conchita

The first person Andreeva hugged as she climbed into the players' box after her victory on the Philippe Chatrier Court was Martinez.

Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion, has overseen all five of Andreeva's WTA title wins since joining her team in 2024.

Andreeva is so devoted to Martinez that she joked about Mary Pierce - who beat the Spanish player in the 2000 Paris final - as she handed her the trophy.

The coach-player duo has a genuine bond. Off the practice courts and gym, there are constant jokes and games of Uno, while Andreeva cheered Martinez on during an exhibition match at Wimbledon last year - wearing a tennis-themed straw hat and a homemade sign reading 'Vamos Senorita'.

'We've been through so many good moments and some bad ones, especially towards the end of last year,' Andreeva said, who struggled to find her best form after reaching the quarterfinals at SW19 last year.

'She said she's very proud of me. Hearing those words from her is very, very special to me.'

'Happy but not satisfied' - what's next for Andreeva?

The future looks bright for Andreeva, who is the first player born after 2005 to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

She has found her comfort zone on clay courts this season, winning 22 of her 25 matches - more than any other WTA player - on the surface.

Maria Sharapova, the last Russian woman to win a major singles title, said Andreeva showed 'signs of a champion'.

'Proud of you Mirra Andreeva. The celebration says it all. Happy, but not satisfied,' Sharapova wrote on Instagram.

Andreeva echoed Sharapova's statement in her post-match press conference.

'I'm already thinking about how I'm going to prepare for the grass-court season and how I'm going to play,' she added.

'I feel like this is a little addictive. I really want to do my best to experience all of this for a second time.'

Andreeva took home a cash prize of $3.9 million, while Chwalinska earned $2 million.