Andreeva, fascinated by Serena's comeback: "I wouldn't want to face her"

Iker Jiménez | 27 Jun 2026 | 21.00

Andreeva, fascinated by Serena's return: "I wouldn't want to face her." Source: Getty

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Just a few weeks after conquering the first Grand Slam of her career at Roland Garros, Mirra Andreeva is now focusing all her efforts on Wimbledon. The Russian, one of the standout performers on the women's circuit in 2026, arrives in London with sky-high confidence after lifting the trophy in Paris, although she insists on not setting overly ambitious goals to avoid unnecessary pressure.

During the press conference before the start of the tournament, the young tennis player reflected on what it meant to become a Grand Slam champion, talked about the challenge of turning the page so quickly after such a significant success, and made one of the most striking statements by referring to the unexpected return of Serena Williams to the Wimbledon singles draw.

Andreeva's opinion on the return of Serena Williams

"Honestly, I would never have imagined something like this. When I was little, I watched her matches, followed everything she did, and always cheered for her when she won Grand Slams. I never thought that one day I would play in the same tournament as her. When I arrived at the club and was warming up to train, they were celebrating the draw, and I was looking, thinking that no one would want to face Serena. I speak for myself: I wouldn't want to play against Serena (laughs). I would be very nervous. It's incredible that she's back. First, she returned to play doubles, and now she will also compete in the singles. It's fantastic to see."

What has been the best part of becoming a Grand Slam champion?

"Obviously, the feelings I experienced on the first day after winning and during the following days were incredible. I would love to relive them. I think that feeling eventually becomes some sort of addiction that many players have after winning a Grand Slam. That will be my goal: to try to repeat it and experience those emotions again."

Are you ready to win Wimbledon?

"I'm going to try. I don't want to set expectations because I feel that when I do, things sometimes start to go wrong. I'm just going to focus on how I want to play each match I have the opportunity to play here."

Why do you think Wimbledon has a different champion every year?

"Honestly, I don't know. But I believe that's precisely what makes this tournament so interesting. You never know who is going to win, and that makes tennis very entertaining. If I were watching the tournament from home, I would also be very curious to find out who will be the champion this year."

Would you have liked to have had a few more weeks to prepare for Wimbledon?

"I have thought about it. Yes, I would have liked to have had a little more time, but that's the calendar, and you just have to accept it. I spent a few very short but very nice days with my family. I rested and didn't play tennis for a couple of days. Then, I had to return to training. Even if Wimbledon had started a little later, I probably would have resumed training practically around the same dates. So, it's okay."

Have you received many congratulations from other players?

"Yes, I'm still receiving many congratulations. Just today, for example, Karen congratulated me. Also Jacqueline Cristian, Andrey, Coco... Many players that I see around the training area keep congratulating me. It's very nice to hear that from so many colleagues. It has been something very special for me."

What aspects can you improve to go far in Wimbledon as well?

"I think I improved a lot mentally during Roland Garros. Initially, I was very nervous, and my emotions were all over the place. Gradually, I managed to focus solely on what I had to do on the court. That's what I want to bring to Wimbledon now. Whatever happens, I want to concentrate on each point. What happened is in the past. Now, only the next point matters."

What excites you the most about Wimbledon?

"I'm always very excited to come to London because this tournament has a completely different atmosphere. Here, we live in a house and not in a hotel. Also, I like not seeing the same players' faces every day (she smiles). It's a joke, no one be offended. We spend a lot of time together, and sometimes it's nice not to share the same living space. It's very special to walk around the club when there aren't too many people yet, tour the courts, and enjoy the ambiance and the flowers everywhere. I don't know... Wimbledon has a unique atmosphere. It's a very traditional tournament, and I'm always very happy to come back and play here."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andreeva, fascinada con el regreso de Serena: "No querría enfrentarme a ella"

Mirra Andreeva