Impressed by Legend, Andreeva Rolls in AO Opener

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 12, 2025

Picture credit score: Jean Catuffe/Getty

Shrewd courtroom sense makes teenager Mirra Andreeva a significant risk.

Today, Andreeva goals to proceed her ahead march wanting again to an all-court artist.

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Roland Garros semifinalist Andreeva confirmed bold assault sweeping Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3 to roll into the Australian Open second spherical.

A 12 months in the past, Andreeva knocked off Ons Jabeur en path to the AO fourth spherical in her event debut. She returns to Melbourne this 12 months ranked No. 15 and pushing towards a Prime 10 breakthrough.

The 17-year-old Andreeva is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, however cites one other Grand Slam champion as her tennis position mannequin: Martina Hingis.

Corridor of Famer Hingis captured three consecutive Australian Open championships from 1997-1999.

The Swiss Miss’ talent enjoying off the entrance foot and shutting at internet have impressed Andreeva to sharpen her internet abilities.

As we speak, Andreeva received 14 of 21 journeys to internet and typically used her exact return recreation to arrange internet rushes. Andreeva, who like Hingis owns a deadly two-handed backhand, received 11 of 15 factors performed on the Bouzkova second serve.

Andreeva sees Hingis as stylistic soul sister.

“I all the time like the way in which Martina Hingis was enjoying. I’ve seen some similarities, I might say,” Andreeva stated. “She’s additionally enjoying good. I might say she performed good and I am additionally enjoying good as her.

“I am making an attempt to, you understand, play good, however I feel that the distinction is that she was by no means afraid to, you understand, are available and end the purpose and be extra aggressive.”

Andreeva, who’s fast across the courtroom, stated she’s studying to make use of her velocity as an offensive weapon and transition to internet.

“Now I am simply beginning to learn to do it,” Andreeva stated of her efforts to enhance internet play. “ I am simply, you understand, the primary matches of the 12 months I am beginning to, I am making an attempt to power myself to complete the purpose on the internet or to go, to step within the courtroom.”

“I might say that after I watched [Martina Hingis] play, she would all the time, as quickly as she has a possibility, she would all the time are available and attempt to end the purpose much more aggressive,” Andreeva stated. “And Steffi Graf, I might say that she’s a tough participant with that slice. And she or he really performs, I might say, just about like Conchita with a slice, after which she would flip round to her forehand. That could be a bit totally different, so I am not utilizing a whole lot of slices (smiling). However I can see a little bit of similarities with me and Martina Hingis.”