Tennis-Andreeva rips through Cirstea for return to Roland Garros semi-finals

Russian teenager Mirra ​Andreeva returned to the French Open ​semi-finals with a 6-0 6-3 ‌win over ​Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea on a rainy Tuesday to continue her run in a Roland Garros draw stripped of many ‌big names. Now among the leading contenders for a maiden Grand Slam title with defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek out, the Russian next faces the winner of the all-Ukrainian ‌clash between Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk.

The 19-year-old wasted little time asserting herself with ‌ultra aggressive tennis in front of a sparse crowd beneath the Court Philippe Chatrier roof, racing through the first set in only 24 minutes. "I'm super happy I was able to play aggressive," said Andreeva, who became ⁠the ​teenager with the most ⁠Paris main draw victories this century with her 16th win.

"The last time I played her, it was a ⁠very tough battle. Every practice with her is very tough. We've practised 10 times already this year ​and we know each other well. "I knew it wouldn't be easy and I'd have ⁠to 200% of my intensity and focus, as she would look to be aggressive and pressure me whenever ⁠she ​could."

Cirstea, playing her third Grand Slam quarter-final in her final year on the circuit, steadied herself early in the second set and recovered a break at 3-3, but ⁠the 36-year-old could not halt the Andreeva juggernaut. Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals two years ago, forced ⁠an error from ⁠Cirstea's racket to break again and she closed out the victory with a forehand bullet, before walking to the net to give her ‌beaten opponent ‌a warm hug.

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