Andreeva: "I played Paolini in Madrid and it was difficult".

Mirra Andreeva is playing in her first Grand Slam semi-finals at Roland Garros this Thursday, aged just 17. She will be up against another player taking her first steps at this stage of the competition, 28-year-old Italian Jasmine Paolini.

An opponent the young Russian faced and beat a month ago in Madrid. Although she was victorious, she remembered above all the quality of her opponent's tennis and the intensity of the battle she put up against her on the Spanish clay.

Mirra Andreeva: "I played against her (Paolini) in Madrid. It was a very tough match (victory 7-6, 6-4). Both mentally and tennis-wise. She plays very fast and moves very quickly. She forges ahead, whatever the score or the situation.

I think it'll be a bit like today (Wednesday against Aryna Sabalenka). So I'm going to try to play at the same level and with the same cool head, if I can say that. And we'll see what happens."