THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2023

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/A. Potapova

6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Mirra Andreeva.

Mirra, how does it feel, another win under your belt?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Of course, I'm really happy with my win today. It was tough match, but I'm happy that I managed to win it. A lot of long rallies. So, yeah, now I'm in the round of 16.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I saw your determination on the court, especially when you made mistakes. How much perfectionist you are?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Actually it's a little bit strange because I'm a perfectionist. In the room, it's total mess. But when we play cards or just I prepare my stuff, all has to be perfect.

It's kind of, I don't know... I'm not perfectionist, but I think on the court I am.

Q. You didn't play for the first three months this year, then you played two tournaments in Switzerland that you won. Why didn't you play the first three months? What are your memories from the two weeks in Switzerland?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I didn't play because I'm limited in the tournaments, so we needed to choose the right moment and the right tournament just to not have this long time at that tournament.

After Australia, I felt I need more time, so we decided to take it easy, not to rush, to choose the right tournaments.

From Switzerland, of course I have only positive memories. I really like these two cities. It was so beautiful. We were in mountains. Yes, I like the courts, I like everything. Switzerland is just a beautiful country, and I won the two tournaments. So yes...

Q. What do you take from your experience in Paris that you are using here, especially now that you're in the second week of the tournament?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, after Paris I just had quite a long talk with myself, just me and myself, and that's it. I talked to myself. I just talked. I don't know, just in my head I realized some things. I took some decisions that I think are now important for me.

I think I did a good job because now everything is working so far. Yes, I just talked with myself, and I decided everything what I have to do next. So far it's working.

Q. Can I ask, were those decisions about how you play tennis or how you behave on the court or how you think about tennis?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Everything. Everything. Which decision is right decision at the time on the court. What to do if I lose 1-5, Love-40, for example. I don't know, just about everything. Tennis-wise, mental-wise. So yes...

Q. You've talked about keeping your temper on the court. Do you have the same sort of tantrums that other 16-year-old teenagers have away from the court? Do you live a normal teenage life? What do you do that your friends do that sort of reminds you you're a 16-year-old?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Actually I think I'm just a normal teenager, like normal girl. I do, I think, everything that the girls my age do. I love to watch some series. I have to do my school. I have no choice. I have to suffer for two more years, and that's it (smiling).

So, yes, when I have free time, I prefer to -- sometimes it depends on my mood, but sometimes I prefer to be alone, just with myself, yes.

But most of the time I watch Netflix. I'm honest (smiling).

Q. You're the last qualifier in either of the singles draws, which is a great achievement. Until two years ago someone would have said it's impossible for a qualifier to win a Grand Slam. We now know it isn't impossible because of what happened in New York. Did what happened with Raducanu inspire you to believe you could repeat her feat?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Of course, in 2021 she did amazing job. Everyone was impressed. I think she was impressed also to pass the quallies and to win the slam at 18. It's amazing.

But me, I just try to not think about it. I think it will disturb me, all these thoughts. I just try to play every match and don't think how far I have gone already or which round I'm playing, against who I'm playing.

I just try to play every point. Doesn't matter against who. Doesn't matter which round. I just play my game. I don't change anything mental-wise, tennis-wise. So, yeah, I'm just playing.

Q. Last year there were no Russian players here. It was out of your control. There doesn't seem to be any issue between the fans and the Russian players. Is that a positive, there's been no recriminations towards Russian players from the supporters here?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, yeah, I don't feel anything. I'm just playing tennis and that's it. I'm just a tennis player, so that's it.

Q. I wanted to ask you about playing in front of crowds. Do you find that the main difference between playing the juniors, one of the differences, and the pros? How does the crowd influence you? Do you get encouraged? Do you feel more nervous when you hear everyone shouting your name?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would definitely say that before it might disturb me at some moments. Honestly, today I remember that some parts somebody was screaming my name, somebody was really supporting me. I just tried to use it for myself.

I just feel the support from the crowd. When I win the point, I feel everyone is encouraging for me, everyone is cheering for me, it really helps me a lot.

Yes, I'm really happy that the crowd was, like, not only on my side because it wouldn't be unfair. Yes, but today the crowd was good. I can say that they were supporting both of us.

Yes, today I enjoyed the atmosphere.

Q. Seems like you have most of Wimbledon behind you. Do you have any sense of the sort of support you're getting from back home?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, today especially is the birthday of my grandpa. They were watching my match, like 50 people that they invited. Of course today I received much more support, much more kind messages from my family.

Yes, I spoke to my grandparents already. Of course, I said happy birthday. Today, yes, I can say that I received a lot of messages from my family.

Q. What about wider, in the country as a whole?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, I also feel the support from Krasnoyarsk, a lot of people are supporting me. They are posting the stories. They are tagging me everywhere.

Of course, it's great. I feel super nice because they remember me (smiling). Yes, I'm excited about it, that they still cheer for me, even though I've been there last time in the winter. So yes...

Q. I believe you hadn't played on grass before qualifying. You've now won six matches in a row. Have you surprised yourself with this or did you feel this was possible?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, as I said, I just didn't think about it. When I played my first match in quallies, I just didn't have any expectations because it was my first match on grass. I just tried to give it all on the court.

Since that first match, I actually found the right rhythm. Now it's working pretty good, I can say. So honestly, as I said, I did not have any expectations. I just play.

I always say that it's a game. The game will decide who will win the match.

Q. When I talked to your sister, she said she wasn't surprised at the results you've been having because she's noticed a mental change in you, you're thinking like an adult. How would you describe it in your words?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Tennis-wise I can say that I've changed a lot after also my talk with myself after French Open. Just after Australian Open I've been working on it to improve it.

Just to be honest, outside the court I'm still 16, and sometimes I can be like a kid. I can complain a lot about some stuff. Yes, on the court I just try to think only about tennis, about the game, about the next point. But outside the court I'm different (smiling).

Q. Your style is distinctive. Is there a player you model yourself on?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, I always admire Federer and he was always my favorite player. But after Nadal, he won French Open in 2022. I was really impressed because after an injury, he came back, he won the Australian Open, he won French Open.

After that, I can say that now mental-wise I just try sometimes to copy him. I just try to remember what would he do in these moments, what would he do on the score. Sometimes, yes, I can say that I copy him. So yes...

Q. You're practicing in France at the same academy that Daniil Medvedev practiced or maybe still does. What was the reason you chose that academy?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: We had two choices. I've played a tournament in Europe, and we had two choices, either to try the Rafa Nadal Academy or to go to Cannes. Cannes was closer. We decided to try to go there.

I liked it there, so we decided to try. Now I can say that we like it, the process and everything. That's why we're there now.