MIRRA'S GOT IT CRACKED

Fun-loving Russian teen sensation is just three wins away from becoming youngest Wimbledon singles champ since 2004... and the new superstar of tennis

- NEIL MCLEMAN

SHE first found fame as a 16-year-old for admiring Andy Murray. And now Mirra Andreeva is bidding to emulate Emma Raducanu by winning her first Grand Slam at the age of 18 with the same smile and carefree attitude.

The Russian world No.7 is even facing the same quarterfinal opponent beaten by Raducanu on the Brit's way to her 2021 US Open triumph in Swiss star Belinda Bencic.

Andreeva is only three wins away from becoming the youngest Wimbledon singles champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova in 2004 - and the new tennis superstar.

She lit up Centre Court for the first time as she beat world No.10 Emma Navarro to reach the last eight and then thanked Roger and Mirka Federer for watching from the Royal Box.

"Mirka, I just want to say real quick that you look really pretty," she said. "I really like your outfit."