LeBron James ‘happy to have helped’ Mirra Andreeva to Indian Wells win
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Mirra Andreeva (above) beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final to clinch her second straight WTA 1000 title.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES – National Basketball Association (NBA) star LeBron James said he was happy to have helped inspire Mirra Andreeva to her Indian Wells victory on March 16, after the Russian teenager credited one of his past interviews, in which he talked about the importance of mental strength.
Andreeva beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
She said in an interview with Tennis Channel on March 17 that she had taken James’ comments to heart.
“He was saying that even if you don’t play 100 per cent or even if you don’t feel 100 per cent physically, ‘I’m going to choose to be 100 per cent mentally’. He said that’s what makes us champions, so I kind of tried to do the same,” she said.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and four-time champion, congratulated the 17-year-old on her win and urged her to keep going.
“Congratulations! Happy to have helped,” he wrote on Instagram late on March 17. “But honestly YOU did THAT!! All your hard work, drive, and dedication toward your craft. KEEP GOING!
“Strive for greatness.”
Former tennis star and fellow Russian Maria Sharapova also praised Andreeva, stating: “Many congratulations! You are poised to achieve great things. This win is so well-deserved.”
Andreeva also beat world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, and the Polish star said afterwards she was not proud of the way she vented her frustration during the match.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek nearly hit a ball boy after smashing a ball into the ground, was later heavily criticised over the incident, but added that she did not expect to receive “such harsh judgments”.
“It’s true – I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of. My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground,” she posted on Instagram on March 17.
“I immediately apologised to the ball boy, we made eye contact, and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him. I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgments.”
Swiatek added that the second half of 2024 was extremely challenging for her. She accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
“When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot... Now that I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labelled immature or hysterical,” she said.
“That’s not a healthy standard – especially considering that just six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread, spent three weeks crying daily, and didn’t want to step on the court.” REUTERS
