Young tennis player Mirra Andreeva acknowledged that advice from basketball legend LeBron James motivated her impressive victory over Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked player in the world, at the BNP Paribas Open. James has since publicly recognized her achievement.
After her remarkable comeback win against Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3, 6-4), Andreeva mentioned in a Tennis Channel interview that she recalled an interview with the NBA star LeBron James when she was struggling in the match. This is Andreeva’s second victory over Sabalenka in their six encounters, with Sabalenka being a three-time Grand Slam champion.
Andreeva recounted James’ words: ‘Even if you’re not at your physical peak, you can choose to be completely focused mentally.’ She added, ‘He believes that mental strength is what defines champions, so I tried to apply that mindset. It was challenging initially, but eventually, I managed to turn things around, commit to my shots, and try to embody a champion’s mentality.’
LeBron James responded on Monday by sharing the interview clip on his Instagram story, sending an encouraging message to the 17-year-old athlete.
‘Mirra, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!’ James exclaimed. ‘I’m glad if I could help, but truly, YOU accomplished this! It’s all due to your hard work, determination, and commitment to your sport! Keep pushing forward!’ James concluded, adding the hashtag #striveforgreatness.
Besides drawing inspiration from LeBron James, Andreeva has also been motivated by rapper Snoop Dogg. In her victory speeches after securing her first two WTA 1000 titles, she humorously thanked herself, a phrase popularized by Snoop Dogg during his Hollywood Walk of Fame star acceptance speech.
In her own words during a victory speech, Andreeva stated, ‘I want to thank myself again for persevering, for believing in myself, and for never giving up.’
She also commented on Sabalenka’s aggressive playing style, saying, ‘I felt like I was running like a rabbit out there today. It was incredibly tough to keep up with her powerful shots, so I just gave it my all. That’s why I want to thank myself, because I believe I played a significant role in this victory.’
