A day of light, on-and-off rain showers in the morning and early afternoon led to the roof being closed on No. 1 Court, and under indoor conditions, Mirra Andreeva delivered a composed and clinical performance to move into the last 16 at Wimbledon. The 18-year-old, seeded 7th, defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3.
Though the scoreline might suggest a routine win, the match featured stretches of tight, competitive tennis—especially in the second set—with the American pushing Andreeva’s focus and defensive skills. But it was the teenager’s poise and clarity in pressure moments that ultimately made the difference.
The first set was completely controlled by Andreeva, who quickly found her rhythm and set the tone for the match. Her shot selection, clever use of angles, and backhand precision kept the American on the defensive. Andreeva’s tennis IQ was on full display, showcasing her ability to dictate points without overplaying.
“The match was going to be tough,” she said afterward. “I felt like [Baptiste] was playing super free and going for her shots. My goal was just to stay focused and also be aggressive. So, I’m super happy with my level today.”
The match’s real tension came in the second set. Baptiste, the 23-year-old from Washington, D. C., began to find her range and raised her level. She had a real chance to shift the momentum when she trailed 4-2 with Andreeva serving. After playing a strong return game, earning five break points, the American missed a sliced backhand drop shot into the net. It was a frustrating moment, especially given the quality she had shown to reach that point.
Andreeva held for 5-2, showing her usual calm under pressure, but Baptiste responded with a powerful service hold to stay in the contest at 5-3. There was strong support in the stands for the American, with plenty of encouragement from fans hoping she could make a late comeback.
Serving for the match at 5-3, Andreeva opened with a clean, unreturnable serve down the line. At 30-love, she missed a backhand drop shot but quickly recovered. At 40-15, her first match point, Baptiste sent a forehand return into the net, sealing the win for the rising star.
Andreeva’s performance was backed by impressive statistics: she struck 28 winners (13 off the backhand), made just 12 unforced errors, and converted 5 of 7 break points while saving 8 of 9. She served three aces with a top speed of 119 mph and showed impressive returning ability throughout.
Baptiste hit one ace with three double faults and recorded the fastest serve of the match at 121 mph. The American had moments of brilliance but was ultimately undone by inconsistency—26 unforced errors and just 1 of 9 break points converted.
The match also highlighted Andreeva’s superb passing shots, which neutralized Baptiste’s occasional forays to the net. Although the American won 3 of 4 serve-and-volley points, she was unable to make that tactic a regular threat due to Andreeva’s court awareness and sharp reactions.
In her on-court interview, Andreeva called the match “tough” and praised Baptiste for her ability to break rhythm and serve well. “I just tried to stay focused, make little mistakes, and go for my shots,” she said.
Later in her press conference, Andreeva reflected further on how she handled Baptiste’s unpredictable game: “Conchita [Martinez] just told me to really stay focused and not to rush—take your time and be patient. She’s going to cut the rhythm a lot. Sometimes she’s going to go for an amazing shot. So be calm and accept that.”
She also noted an improved balance in her shot selection: “I probably found a good balance between slicing and changing the rhythm with the forehand slice. But also I felt like when I had time, I was just using my forehand. It brought me a lot of free points.”
With so many early exits from top seeds in the first week, Andreeva was asked whether she’s feeling the pressure of opportunity. “Honestly, I didn’t really think about it,” she said. “I was just focused on trying to win more games and more matches. When I won my first round, my goal was just to go out there and win my second round—to improve from last year.”
At just 18, Andreeva is proving to be not only a top-tier talent on the court but also a natural presence off it. With her relaxed demeanor, thoughtful answers, and confident poise, she continues to win hearts and matches alike. “I’m just going to try and be the best version of myself every match I play,” she said.