LeBron James congratulates Mirra Andreeva after Indian Wells shoutout

Princess Mirra, meet King James.

Mirra Andreeva got an extra-special shoutout after her BNP Paribas Open victory on Monday, NBA legend LeBron James congratulating the 17-year-old on Instagram.

“Happy to have helped but honestly YOU did THAT!!” wrote the four-time NBA champion. “All your hard work, drive and dedication towards your craft! KEEP GOING! #striveforgreatness”

Andreeva had cited James as a key inspiration in her run to a second straight WTA 1000 title, one where she scored back-to-back wins over the world’s Top 2 players and became the youngest champion at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since Serena Williams in 1999.

“I was listening to the interview of LeBron James and he was saying that, even if you don’t play your 100% or if you don’t feel 100% physically, you’re going to choose to be 100% mentally, and that’s what makes us champions,” she said in her Tennis Channel BMW Desk interview. “I kind of tried to do the same.”

Fresh off a second straight victory over No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Andreeva rallied from a set down against Aryna Sabalenka to topple the world No. 1 to win a 12th straight match and capture the biggest title of her young career.

“With some time, in the end, I managed to overcome that and really try to go for my shots and act like one of the legends.”

Up to a career-high ranking of No. 6, Andreeva, who also got a shoutout from idol Maria Sharapova, is in pole position for legendary status at a young age, hitting milestones last hit by the likes of Williams and fellow former No. 1 Martina Hingis. Surrounded by a strong team led by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, Andreeva continues to take ultimate responsibility for her career. Like she did after winning her fist WTA 1000 title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the teenager cheekily thanked herself during the trophy ceremony in homage to rapper Snoop Dogg.

“For fighting until the end and always believing in me, and for never quitting, and I don’t know, I tried to run like a rabbit today because Aryna was sending bullets and it was really hard just to keep up,” she said on court. “I just tried my best.

“That’s why I’d like to thank myself! I think I played a little part, also.”