Andreeva happy to achieve success sooner rather than later
The 17-year-old Russian is playing the best tennis of her career, having won her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai last month
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Some players often claim that they’re happy they had to wait a little longer for their biggest successes than others, suggesting the effort in getting there is as enjoyable as the success itself and that they are better equipped, mentally, to deal with it all.
Others, like Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles or Tracy Austin, are more impatient, itching for big wins from the moment they hit the Tour. Mirra Andreeva, who won her first WTA 1000 title last month at the age of 17, seems to fit the latter bracket, even if she perhaps thought it might take her a little longer to win tournaments of that magnitude.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that I really surprised myself,” she told reporters in Indian Wells, where she is through to the last 16. “I kind of felt that sooner or later it’s going to come, but I just of course didn’t expect that it’s going to be this soon.
“You know, I take it. It’s fine. It’s better sooner than later. So yeah, it was a bit surprising but I just know that everyone in our team, we worked hard for it. And in the end, as everyone is saying, hard work pays off.”
“Now I know what to do”
Andreeva’s Dubai title took her into the world’s top 10 for the first time and she’s maintained that form so far in Indian Wells.
As she takes on Elena Rybakina in the next round, Andreeva is high on confidence, as good, she said, as she did at Roland-Garros last summer, when she reached the semi-finals of a slam for the first time.
“It’s good, I like it,” she said. “It just feels that I know exactly what to do on the court. For example, I would say that before on some tournaments, it depends on the match, but now I just know that, you know, I go out there, doesn’t matter who I play, the ball is coming to me and I know what to do.
“I just feel like everything is clear in my head and I know exactly what to do with the ball. It’s kind of a good feeling, I can say. I hope that I can maintain this for as long as I can.”
Praise for coach Martinez
Andreeva once more praised her coach, the former Wimbledon champion, Conchita Martinez, for her help, support and expertise as she’s broken into the top 10.
“Since the beginning of work relationship, I already felt like we had a great connection,” she said. “At the first tournament that we went on together was already super great, and I felt very comfortable around her. I think she told me that it was the same for her, so thank God it’s not just me.
“I feel like we’re both very energetic, and I feel like we both know how to be energetic, but when we need to also calm down and take things seriously.
“I completely trust her with everything. I think she knows everything that’s going on in my life. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but, no, just like this. I’m just super happy to have her by my side.”
