If anyone is qualified to advise a teenage sporting prodigy, it’s LeBron James. The Lakers star walked into the NBA as a 17-year-old and more than lived up to the hype, and continues to shatter expectations at 40.
LeBron James reacts to teenage tennis prodigy being inspired by him

Los Angeles Lakers injured forward LeBron James. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Tennis has seen its share of teenage prodigies, but 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva promises to transcend the sport like few before her. On Sunday, she followed in Steffi Graf and Serena Williams’s footsteps as the first teenager to beat the top two ranked players at the same event en route to her second ATP1000 title within a month.

After her win, the Russian told Tennis Channel that she was inspired by an old interview with James in which the basketball legend spoke on the importance of the mental aspect in sports.

LAFB Network (@LAFBNetwork) / X

Andreeva revealed she remembered James’ words when she dropped the first set to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s Indian Wells final.

“I was listening to LeBron James’ interview and he was saying that even if you don’t play at 100% or if you don’t feel 100% physically, I’m going to choose to be 100% mentally,” the teenager recalled. “He said that’s what makes us champions. So, I kind of tried to do the same.”

Andreeva admitted her mind-over-matter gameplan didn’t “really work in the beginning,” but when it did, she knew there was no stopping her.

“I managed to overcome that and really go for my shots and act like one of those legends,” she added.

This wasn’t the first time she credited James. Andreeva praised the Lakers star after winning the Dubai Tennis Championship, her first-ever WTA1000 title, last month.

James took to social media to share encouraging words for the rising tennis superstar.

“Congratulations!! Happy to have helped, but honestly YOU did THAT!! All your hard work, drive, and dedication towards your craft! KEEP GOING!”

Andreeva has arrived in South Florida for the prestigious Miami Open, which begins this week. The teenager is trying to win a hat trick of WTA1000 titles after her wins in Dubai and Indian Wells. No teenager in tennis history, male or female, has won the Indian Wells and Miami titles, dubbed the Sunshine Double, in the same season.