French Open: 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, 28-year-old Jasmine Paolini surprise to reach first Grand Slam semi-final

There will be two debutants in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open for women. Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia will play 28-year-old Italian Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals on Thursday. Neither has played in a Grand Slam semifinal before.

Both Paolini and Andreeva defeated strong, established competitors to secure a spot in their first Grand Slam semifinal. Taking on world number 4 Elena Rybakina, Paolini came out of the blocks with enormous confidence. At just 1.63 meters (5 feet 6 inches), it looked as though the match would favor the tall, lithe Rybakina, but Paolini played with a graceful energy that more than made up for her shorter limbs. Rybakina, on the other hand, was wild, making 48 unforced errors, more than double Paolini’s total of 22. After a slip in the second set, Paolini won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

The young Andreeva was playing against world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka, and although Sabalenka plays a hard-swinging, fast game, Andreeva was ready for it. Sabalenka’s tirelessness can quickly wear down any opponent, but Andreeva would not wither. Not even after losing a tiebreak in the first set, which can discourage even the most powerful players. She came back and defeated Sabalenka in straight sets, 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-4, becoming the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist since 1997.

Although Paolini didn’t reach her first Grand Slam semifinal until she was 28, she’s far from an unranked newcomer. She made her debut on the women’s tour in 2015, claimed her first WTA title in 2018, and has begun to produce more consistent results in recent years. She began 2024 by reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open, followed by a WTA 1000 victory in Dubai. She began the year ranked No. 30 in the world, but had risen to No. 15 by the French Open.

Andreeva is only 17, but she has been immensely talented for years. She turned pro just over a year ago and has already made it deep in most majors, reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2023 and the Australian Open in 2024. She defeated one of the most fearsome and fearsome competitors on the entire women’s tour in Sabalenka, but will now face a 28-year-old who is on the deepest Grand Slam run of her decade-long career.

Andreeva won’t be scared when she steps onto the court on Thursday, but neither will Paolini. They may be 11 years apart, but they’ll both be in that position for the first time: fighting for a shot at a Grand Slam final.