"I watched many of Roger's matches here, and I really wanted to have that composure", Andreeva said after defeating Maja Chwalinska in the Roland Garros final on 6/6. "Of course, I will never have that demeanor. No one can possess that aura. But I wanted to try and somewhat imitate how Roger behaved on court, because I really enjoyed watching him play".

Andreeva defeated qualifier Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to lift the Suzanne Lenglen trophy on 6/6. This was Andreeva's first Grand Slam final, but she rarely showed tension. After the fifth game, Andreeva won nine consecutive games with a calm, almost cold, demeanor.

"As my psychologist advised: you can always choose who you are on court, how you play, and what kind of person you become", Andreeva added. "Therefore, I decided to become a warrior".

Andreeva celebrates her Roland Garros championship on Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France, on 6/6. Photo: Reuters.

Andreeva was previously known for struggling with emotional control on court. In her 2023 Roland Garros debut, the Russian player was nearly disqualified after carelessly hitting a ball out of frustration during her match against Coco Gauff. Earlier this year at Indian Wells, Andreeva smashed her racket and swore towards the crowd after being eliminated in the third round. She also cried after losing to Marta Kostyuk in the Madrid Open final just a few weeks prior.

However, at this year's Roland Garros, Andreeva showed exceptional psychological maturity. The 19-year-old even "repaid her debt" to Kostyuk in the semifinals. After defeating Chwalinska, Andreeva said learning from Federer's playing style helped her maintain better composure.

Federer was not the only one to inspire Andreeva. The young player also received encouragement from two older compatriots who had previously won Roland Garros: Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"Of course, I remember Sharapova winning here. I know she was also in Paris. I don't know if she watched the final, but I hope she did", Andreeva added. "Kuznetsova sent me a short voice message to cheer me on with many positive messages. I really appreciate that".

Andreeva is considered one of the most prominent talents in women's tennis today. After gaining early recognition at the age of 15, the Russian player was highly regarded for her skill but often struggled with emotional control in major matches. Her Roland Garros victory is a milestone demonstrating her maturity in both psychology and competitive spirit.

Vy Anh