Young tennis star Mirra Andreeva revealed that a motivational message from basketball icon LeBron James fueled her remarkable comeback victory against world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the BNP Paribas Open. James has since recognized her achievement.

In a post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Andreeva discussed how she rallied from a set down (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) to defeat Sabalenka, marking her second win in six encounters with the Grand Slam champion. She explained that she drew inspiration from an old interview with the NBA legend when facing adversity.

Andreeva quoted James, recalling his words about choosing mental fortitude even when physical performance isn’t at its peak. She elaborated, ‘He said that mental strength is what distinguishes champions. I tried to apply that mindset, and although it was challenging initially, I eventually managed to turn things around, commit to my shots, and emulate the mindset of a legend.’

James responded on Monday by reposting the interview clip on his Instagram story, sending a personal message to the 17-year-old athlete.

‘Mirra, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!’ James exclaimed. ‘I’m glad if I helped, but truly, YOU achieved this!! It’s a testament to your hard work, drive, and dedication! Keep pushing forward!’ James concluded his message with the hashtag #striveforgreatness.

Besides James, Andreeva also finds inspiration in rapper Snoop Dogg’s famous self-acknowledgement speech. After her recent WTA 1000 title wins, Andreeva has humorously thanked herself in her victory speeches, echoing Snoop Dogg’s style.

In her victory speech, Andreeva playfully stated, ‘Again, I want to thank myself for persevering, for believing in myself, and for never giving up.’

She also lightheartedly commented on Sabalenka’s aggressive play, saying, ‘I felt like I was running like a rabbit out there today. It was incredibly tough to keep up with her attacks, so I just gave it my all. That’s why I want to thank myself, as I believe I also contributed a little to this win.’