Mirra Andreeva just made Snoop Dogg’s most meme-able moment into a serious tennis philosophy: “Thanks to me” | International Sports News
Mirra Andreeva needed just 56 minutes to dismantle Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier Tuesday, booking her place in the Roland Garros semifinals for the second time in three years. At 19, she is the sixth-youngest woman ever to reach two French Open semifinals, and right now, she looks every bit like someone who belongs there. The win was clean, controlled, and at times almost uncomfortable to watch for the Romanian veteran across the net.
Why does Mirra Andreeva keep thanking herself after victories?
The answer, according to Andreeva, is surprisingly simple.Addressing the crowd after her quarterfinal win, she revealed that the habit initially began as a joke inspired by rapper Snoop Dogg. Andreeva capped off her post-match remarks with a memorable line: “Thanks to the crowd, thanks to my crew, and thanks to me…”“I’ll be honest: At first, I saw Snoop Dogg doing it [laughs], and for the first couple of times I kind of stole it just to make a joke,” Andreeva admitted. “But then I realized it’s actually true. We have to thank ourselves for the hard work we put in.”The remark drew cheers from spectators and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the day. In a sport where athletes are often quick to credit coaches, family members and support teams, Andreeva’s willingness to acknowledge her own effort struck a different note. It reflected a level of self-awareness that is not always visible in elite competition, especially from someone still in her teenage years.What makes the message stand out is that it matches what she has delivered on court throughout the tournament. Andreeva has lost only one set during her Roland Garros campaign and has looked increasingly comfortable with every round. Her only setback came in the second round against Marina Bassols Ribera, where she recovered from dropping the opening set to win convincingly.Her quarterfinal performance against Cirstea was arguably her most complete display yet. Andreeva landed 78 percent of her first serves, winning control of points early and rarely allowing her opponent any momentum. Even more impressive was her efficiency on break points. She converted all six opportunities she created, turning a competitive matchup into a one-sided contest.The challenge ahead, however, may be her toughest of the tournament. Andreeva will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals, a player who has beaten her in both of their previous meetings this season. Kostyuk earned victories in Brisbane and Madrid, giving her a psychological edge entering the clash.For Andreeva, the semifinal is about more than reaching her first Roland Garros final. It is another chance to prove that the confidence she speaks about so openly is backed by results when the stakes are highest.
