Mirra Andreeva has been left starstruck by Andy Murray once again after the Brit jumped to her defence at the Australian Open.
The 16-year-old Russian starlet burst onto the scene last year as she made history with incredible runs at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Throughout the year, Andreeva’s admiration for Murray became clear on a number of occasions.
Speaking at the All England Club, Andreeva admitted to being “too shy to talk to him” after briefly meeting her idol.
Mirra Andreeva was delighted that Andy Murray tweeted about her
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Andreeva was left gushing over the former world No 1 once again on Friday after finding out Murray had hit out at a commentator who criticised her display.
The teenager came back from 5-1 in the deciding set against Diane Parry in the third round to win 7-6, which included saving a match point.
But it was a remark from a commentator, who questioned Andreeva’s “mental strength” when she was down 5-1 that angered Murray.
He tweeted: “Maybe the reason she turned the match round is because of her mental strength. Maybe she turned the match around because she is hard on herself and demands more of herself when she’s losing/playing badly? Winner.”
Murray’s post on social media only added to Andreeva’s joy at reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open on her tournament debut.
She said: “I didn’t really think that he would watch a match, then after he would tweet.
“Honestly, I will try to print it out somehow.
“I will put it in a frame. I will bring it everywhere with me.
“I will maybe put it on the wall so I can see it every day.”
Andreeva also agreed with Murray’s suggestion that her mental strength played a part in coming back from 5-1 down.
Mirra Andreeva is through to the fourth round
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“Maybe being harsh on myself actually helped me. I don’t know,” Andreeva added.
“I just try to think positively. This harshness, let’s say, helped me with it because I am not very positive in my head usually…
“I just kept pushing myself. I was saying not good words to myself.
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Mirra Andreeva is taking the Australian Open by storm
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“I think that helped me, that pushed me.”
Andreeva takes on No 9 seed Barbora Krejcikova in the next round, who won the French Open in 2021.
It’s a repeat of the second round at Wimbledon last year, when Andreeva progressed after the Czech Republic star retired from the match.
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