Tennis-Destiny's child Andreeva rides belief into Roland Garros semi-finals

​Mirra Andreeva said she believed destiny was guiding her French Open run as the Russian teenager charged into the semi-finals on Tuesday 12 months since her tearful implosion after being targeted by the Roland ‌Garros crowd. Under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier, the 19-year-old reminded fans of her title credentials with a 6-0 6-3 win over Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea in 56 minutes, and left the court to warm applause.

It was a different story in last year's quarter-finals when she earned a warning ‌for ball abuse after launching one into the stands in frustration during her defeat by local favourite Lois Boisson, but Andreeva said everything ‌happened for a reason. "We have faith that it was already made before we started living this life," Andreeva told reporters, crediting a belief instilled by her parents.

"I think that's why I believe that it's sometimes easier to think this way, when something doesn't go your way. You're like, 'well, this happened for a reason'. It's also easier to think ⁠like that." FAMILIAR ​CONDITIONS

Andreeva had every reason to worry ⁠that familiar conditions might stir unwelcome memories, as she prepared to play her frequent practice partner Cirstea. "I was actually joking a little bit this morning, because it was ⁠raining, and I knew that we would play with a closed roof. I was saying that I have flashbacks to last year," Andreeva said.

"I was just trying ​to have flashbacks only about the weather and about the court with closed roof and not about how I played. I'm ⁠happy that I could turn it around. "If I wasn't able to reach the semi-finals of another Grand Slam, then I guess that's what should have happened. I'm happy I'm back ⁠in ​the semi-finals again.

"I'm just going to try to keep using the same mindset, of giving my best, giving my 100% no matter what happens. I feel it's just easier for me to play when I have this mindset on." Andreeva said she also believed she was mature ⁠enough to handle the crowd if it turned on her in the next round, where she will take on Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.

"I feel this ⁠year in Paris the crowd wasn't ⁠really against me, so I feel like it was easier," Andreeva added. "If that happens again, I feel it would be a little bit easier for me to handle, because I obviously already know what happened ‌last year. I know ‌how I was feeling and what was pressuring me."

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