In the final match at the 2023 Negometal Open de Bourg-de-Peage exhibition event in France, Mirra Andreeva, ranked World No. 57, faced an unexpected opponent, Yanis Ghazouani Durand, a men’s tennis player. Andreeva had secured an emphatic victory over Varvara Gracheva in her opening game and was initially scheduled to play against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final.
However, Kostyuk, drafted in as a replacement for the withdrawing Donna Vekic, opted out of the match due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a swift change, the organizers introduced Frenchman Yanis Ghazouani Durand as a surprising replacement to challenge the emerging women’s tennis sensation.
Mirra Andreeva loses to Yanis Ghazouani Durand:
Despite Ghazouani Durand’s rankings of World No. 1145 on the ATP Tour and No. 74 on the ITF circuit, the 23-year-old promptly took on Mirra Andreeva. The Russian initiated the match positively by breaking Ghazouani Durand in the opening game. However, the French local retaliated, securing a 3-2 lead. In a hard-fought opening set, Ghazouani Durand ultimately seized the victory with a score of 7-5.
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Andreeva struggled to keep up with her opponent in the second set, managing to win only two games. Ghazouani Durand emerged triumphant with a final score of 7-5, 6-2. Despite the defeat, Andreeva was honored with the winner’s trophy.
Mirra Andreeva finishes a stellar 2023:
Mirra Andreeva, who transitioned to the professional circuit in 2022, showcased significant progress during the 2023 season. Although she faced defeat in the Australian Open girls’ category final, she rebounded by securing two ITF titles in Switzerland. Making her Grand Slam main draw debut at the French Open, Andreeva reached the third round but faced elimination against Coco Gauff. The 16-year-old performed even better at the Wimbledon Championships, reaching the fourth round as a qualifier.
Breaking into the world’s top 100 during the summer, Andreeva earned a direct main-draw entry at the US Open. However, her campaign was halted by eventual champion Gauff in the second round. Mirra Andreeva, who was ranked outside the world’s top 300 earlier in the year, achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 46. Recognizing her remarkable accomplishments, the WTA honored her with the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award.
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