Tennis great Maria Sharapova has named Mirra Andreeva as the WTA player she thinks will have a “breakout year” in 2024. 

The former world No 1 backed Andreeva to have a “phenomenal year” and hailed the attitude, game and approach of her young fellow Russian.

While her playing style is different to that of Sharapova, Andreeva has been compared to her esteemed compatriot as a result of the success she has had at such a young age.

Andreeva, who turned 17 last month, made an excellent run to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Madrid Open before losing 1-6, 4-6 to world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

The teenage star is currently ranked 43rd in the world, having reached a career-high position of No 33 in February. Andreeva has already achieved impressive Grand Slam results by reaching the last 16 at this year’s Australian Open and last year’s Wimbledon Championships.

Sharapova famously secured the first of her five Grand Slam titles with a stunning victory over Serena Williams in the final of Wimbledon in 2004 when aged 17.

Execution on POINT 🥶

Mirra Andreeva | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/bJR4C7iZLL

— wta (@WTA) May 1, 2024

In an interview with the WTA, Sharapova was asked which player she thinks will have a breakout season on the women’s tour in 2024.

“This is a tough one. I want to say Mirra Andreeva will have a phenomenal year,” said the 37-year-old, who retired in 2020.

“I followed a little bit of her matches in ’23 and I think she has a strong attitude [and] she has the game to back it up.

“Genuinely, just like her approach and her sensibility in the game. And I think she has a very bright future ahead of her.”

Last year, Andreeva expressed her wish to ask Sharapova about her experience of winning a major at the age of 17.

“I would ask Maria what her feeling was like when she won her first Grand Slam at 17,” said the Russian in an interview with Clay Tenis.

“Then I would want to know other things, but the first thing would to know what she felt after she won Wimbledon in 2004.

“People may say, perhaps, that I’m following her path and doing the same as her, but I don’t focus on that. I have my own career, my own life. I will only do my best to create a great career.

She also revealed she watches Sharapova’s matches on YouTube: “I watch her, just as I watch a lot of the rest of the field.”