“I think that it’s going to be fun and also maybe pretty tight. We’re going to see, but I think that the match is going to be super interesting.”
The one point of friction (all presented tongue in cheek, obviously) between them is Kasatkina’s vlog, “What the Vlog”. Going behind the scenes on the WTA Tour, she interviews players and gives a general flavour of life on the road. When she was in Rome, she brought Andreeva onto the show. And what did Mirra think of her friend’s interviewing technique? “I think she can improve.”
“I was right: I hate her!” Kasatkina responded when told of this. “She is not the one to talk about it because actually she had opportunity to interview players in our Rome vlog. She took the camera, and went to talk with someone in the restaurant… It was terrible.”
When they are not squabbling and giggling together, they are warriors both. They have only met competitively once before, in the Ningbo final last year. Kasatkina won 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 and recalls the match as a “big drama”. With that in mind, she reckoned she would have to work hard on Court Suzanne-Lenglen to stand a chance of repeating that result.
“I have to run a lot,” she said. “It’s going to be long rallies. Mirra, she’s not giving anything for free. You know, to get every point, I’ll have to die on court. I’m ready for that. This is what I’m working for.”
Three to watch on Monday
Court Philipp-Chatrier, second match
Lois Boisson (WC) vs Jessica Pegula (3)
This is what dreams are made of: a year ago, Lois Boisson was on crutches and her career was in the balance. She had torn the ACL in her left knee and the doctors were not sure whether she would be able to play again.
Nine months later, the Frenchwoman came back to the tour at the start of this season and started over. Given a wild card here, she now finds herself one match away from the quarter-finals.
Standing in her way is the world No.3 (Boisson is No.361) but Jessica Pegula is wary of what is coming on Monday.
“She’s going to have some crazy support for her,” she said. “I’m pretty good at kind of zoning out. I have played in some pretty rowdy crowds. I think it will be fun. It will be cool to be a part of that. Even though they’re not for me, it will still be fun. I don’t think I have ever played a French player here, so that will be interesting.”
