MELBOURNE – Mirra Andreeva dug deep into her reserves to defeat Frenchwoman Diane Parry at the Australian Open on Jan 19.

The 16-year-old was thrilled to catch the attention of one of her idols, saying she would print and frame Andy Murray’s words of praise.

In a rematch of their 2023 French Open second-round meeting, which Andreeva won, the teenager appeared close to tears as she went 5-1 down in the decider of the third-round clash and was one point away from defeat before battling to a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win.

The Russian, who burst onto the scene with stunning wins in Madrid last season, had also grabbed headlines by describing Murray as “beautiful”, to which the Briton jokingly responded that she should get her eyes checked.

The Scot, however, was happy to praise Andreeva’s mental strength in her match against Parry.

“Andreeva down 5-1 in third. Commentator says ‘she really needs to work on mental side of her game. She’s too hard on herself when she’s losing’ and 30 minutes later 7-6 Andreeva wins,” he posted on X.

“Maybe the reason she turned the match round is because of her mental strength. Maybe she turned the match around because she is hard on herself and demands more of herself when she’s losing/playing badly? Winner.”

Andreeva said she did not expect Murray to watch her match, much less comment about it.

“I’ll try to print it out somehow,” she said. “I don’t know, I’ll put it in a frame. I’ll bring it everywhere with me. I’ll maybe put it on the wall so I can see it every day.”

She also agreed with Murray’s assessment about her performance against Parry.

“I won the last time I played her,” the Russian said. “I had an advantage. I felt that maybe I should win...

“But when you think like this, it always happens, like 1-6 in the first set. Then I decided to fight to win one game at a time. Maybe being harsh on myself actually helped me. I don’t know.

“I just try to think positively. This harshness, let’s say, helped me with it because I’m not positive in my head usually.

“I kept pushing myself, saying not good words to myself.”

In other matches, US Open champion Coco Gauff also eased into the fourth round, demolishing fellow American Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-2.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, described her 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko as “perfection”, but the Belarusian said she could get even better in a chilling warning to her rivals.

“There is always something to improve. That’s why you just can’t be happy with the level you are at right now so you always have to keep moving, keep improving,” the world No. 2 said.

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic is beginning to find his groove after needing four sets to win in the first two rounds – against Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin.

The Serb, who is aiming to win a record-extending 11th crown at Melbourne Park and 25th Slam title, rediscovered his rhythm to cruise through to the fourth round.

He brushed aside 30th seed Tomas Etcheverry with minimum fuss in his 100th match at the tournament. He was never in trouble against the Argentinian, claiming a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) win.

“It was a great match, I think the best performance I have had during this tournament and I’m pleased with the way I played throughout... the match,” Djokovic said as cheers rang out on Rod Laver Arena.

“He stepped it up, raised his level of tennis probably one or two levels in the third set and we went toe-to-toe. In the tiebreak I guess I just found the right shots, the right serves, and closed it out in straights.”

Djokovic will next face French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino – who outlasted American 16th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4 – in the round of 16.

Fourth seed Jannik Sinner underlined his credentials by racing into the second week of the season’s first Grand Slam without dropping a set after a 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Sebastian Baez.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek seventh seed, defeated France’s Luca van Assche, cruising home 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. He will meet Taylor Fritz next. AFP, REUTERS