Can Mirra Andreeva contend for the Australian Open championship?
MELBOURNE, Australia — Following Mirra Andreeva’s victory at the Adelaide tournament last weekend, she quickly realized that three of the last four champions of that event have subsequently triumphed at the Australian Open in the same year. This includes Madison Keys, who unexpectedly claimed the title in Melbourne a year ago.
“Yes, I am aware [of that],” she stated in an interview with ESPN at Melbourne Park after her first-round win on Monday. “I’m trying not to focus on it since we are different individuals, different competitors. I’m attempting to keep my thoughts away from that.”
Andreeva advanced to the third round on Wednesday, decisively defeating former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari, 6-0, 6-4. However, her hesitation to consider the possibility of an Adelaide-Australian Open double may be influenced by her previous tendencies toward superstition on the Tour.
“At times, I could become quite obsessive,” she remarked. “For instance, eating the same food, waking up at the same hour, doing everything at the same time. But then in Adelaide, I intentionally broke that routine to see what would occur. And nothing negative happened. So after that, I decided not to waste my time on such behaviors.”
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff continue to be the frontrunners for the title this year, but Andreeva is rapidly ascending. Three years ago, she was the runner-up in the girls’ event at the Australian Open; now, after a year in which she secured two WTA 1000 titles and reached the quarterfinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, she is the No. 8 seed and appears to be on a path toward a quarterfinal matchup against Gauff.
While expectations can create pressure, Andreeva seems to be managing it effectively now. She is less prone to losing her composure on the court or becoming distracted, as demonstrated by her comeback from a set down to defeat Donna Vekic in the first round.
Initially, coping with pressure was challenging, she noted, but she is now acquiring the skills to handle the expectations placed upon her. “I feel like it was more difficult for me before because it was all unfamiliar, and I didn’t really understand that it was normal or how to deal with it,” she confessed. “But now, with time, and through discussions with Conchita [Martinez, her coach], who is a very seasoned coach and player, along with my psychologist and my team… I just recognize that it’s normal. I will face pressure from defending points or titles or whatever else crosses my mind [but] I simply need to learn to accept it and play through it. That’s all.”
Martinez has played a crucial role in her ascent to the top 10. The former Wimbledon champion appears as composed off the court as Andreeva — the two were even seen playfully chasing each other in the corridors at Melbourne Park just before the match against Sakkari. Calm yet strategic, Martinez guided Garbine Muguruza to her Wimbledon victory in 2017 and spent two years coaching Karolina Pliskova.
“I believe our personalities align well because we both aim for the same objectives,” Andreeva remarked. “Off the court, we enjoy joking and having fun, but we also recognize that when we arrive at the venue or step onto the court, we can have fun during practice, but it’s primarily about working on our skills and improving whatever we are focusing on. We both understand when it’s time to transition from fun to serious work. I think that’s why our collaboration is effective.”
Andreeva is recognized for her engaging on-court interviews, which many consider almost worth the ticket price alone. “I can say that I have been like this my entire life,” she shared. “I enjoy joking a lot and I also like to tease people. It’s just me. It’s simply part of my personality.”
Andreeva is set to face Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in the third round on Friday. While winning a Grand Slam title is her declared ambition, she also aims to avoid serious injuries.
“I would say, first, my priority is to remain healthy, to play freely, without pain,” she stated. “Additionally, I want to enjoy every match I play and learn new things. My goal is to improve daily as a tennis player and as a person as well. I believe that if I do everything correctly, good outcomes will likely follow. I hope so.”
Source: espn.com
