Mirra Andreeva Admits Touching Roger Federer’s Hand Was Her Dream

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 4:30 AM ET

Mirra Andreeva’s US Open journey came to an abrupt halt as the 18-year-old rising star fell in straight sets to American Taylor Townsend, who has been enjoying a surprise singles surge in New York. While the loss was a setback, Andreeva’s perspective in the aftermath highlighted the maturity and joy with which she approaches her young career.

Already ranked inside the world’s top five and with multiple titles to her name, Andreeva has rapidly established herself as one of the brightest prospects on the WTA Tour. Yet when asked to share her favorite memory on court so far, the teenager bypassed her achievements and instead recalled a more personal and emotional moment: meeting Swiss legend Roger Federer.

“This is my third US Open, yeah, it’s just my third,” Andreeva said with a smile in an interview with ES Exclusives. “And probably—okay, for now, the best memory that just came to my mind [is] probably playing on Centre Court in London, in front of Roger and a lot of super famous people.”

“And when I just had a chance to shake Roger’s hand and just to touch him, which was one of my dreams—like to basically just see him live and touch him—and so one of my dreams came true in London,” she added. “So, I think that for now, this could be one of the greatest memories that I have from playing tennis.”

The memory dates back to her Wimbledon appearance, where she took to Centre Court under the watchful eye of Federer and a star-studded crowd. For the teenager, the moment wasn’t about rankings or victories but about connecting with one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.

As Townsend’s surprise run continues, Andreeva is still continuing her 2025 US open in New York as her doubles pairing with Diana Shnaider is all set to feature in the round of 16.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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