AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2024

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/M. Andreeva

4-6, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Mirra, obviously a tough battle out there today. Can you give us your overall thoughts on the match and also your run to the round of 16 here at the Australian Open.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: The match was tough. She really showed some great tennis today on the court. I also was struggling a bit in the beginning and just throughout all the match.

It's okay. It happens sometimes. It's tennis. So, yeah, but we got to give credits to her. She showed some amazing level today on the court. I wish her luck till the very end of the tournament, so yeah...

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You were up a set today and you'd beaten her twice before. Did you feel at that stage you might have had one foot into the next round? Is that something you can learn from this?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Probably yes, but I had a little bit of pressure on myself before the match because I felt like I have an advantage before the match. I beated her twice before. It's the round of 16. I can go through to the quarterfinals for the first time.

After winning the first set, I was like, Okay, I'm almost there. But first set doesn't mean that you won the match. That what happen to me a few times last year.

I guess I have to learn from it. I will try to, I don't know, make some conclusions from this match. Maybe not today, maybe tomorrow. Yes, I will just try to play my next match better.

Q. In terms of reflecting on your week and a half here, what stands out to you? What are the memories you will take with you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Just I think I had a good tournament overall. I played a fourth round for the second time in my life. I hope it's not the last (smiling).

There is a lot of positive things to take from this trip. My last match was very great. I have beaten my idol here. Yeah, a lot of positive things to take from this trip and also from today's match.

Yeah, will be very looking forward to coming back here next year.

Q. I'm from the UK. I was speaking to one of our juniors this morning. She was saying how she took inspiration from what you did last year, coming through into the professional ranks. How does it feel to be a role model for these juniors? If you were to give one bit of advice to the juniors, what would be the one piece?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly I didn't really expect that. Well, may I ask who was it?

Q. Hannah Klugman.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Okay. Yeah, well, I know her well enough. We've practiced a few times.

Well, I'm sure that if I have to give some advice to juniors... I'm like also kind of a junior, too. I don't think that I can give any advices yet. I'm not a star or something like this. I don't think it's right to give some advices from me.

I think that eventually everyone is going to be here sooner or late if you really want it. If they just, I don't know, fight for it, eventually they will be here. Maybe not this year, maybe next year, maybe two years later.

Yeah, you just go from juniors to pro tournaments. Honestly, I don't know how to give an advices. I don't have an experience in this.

If they just continue to work. If something doesn't go the right way, if something doesn't go how they want it to go, if they just continue to work, eventually they will be here.

Q. In terms of your next upcoming few months, anything schedule-wise? Have you decided where you would like to play, where you can play?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, the next tournament for me is going to be Doha and Dubai. I will try to play all these main tournaments. I cannot play all of them, but I chose the ones that I really, really want to go to. The next tournament is going to be in Doha. I'm very, very excited to go there for the first time, to play there.

Yeah, so the next tournament is Doha, Dubai.

Q. Apart from winning lots of matches, what did you enjoy most about being at this Grand Slam?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: It's always very special to be -- doesn't matter which Grand Slam. But Melbourne is also very special. It was just my third time here but second time playing on these courts. First times playing on this big courts and the stadiums.

As I said, there is a lot of positive things to take from here. I just love Melbourne. I love being here. I love being in this atmosphere. I love playing on these courts.

I hope that next year I will be able to be back and play again with this amazing crowd. Today there was a lot of people who was cheering for me. I'm really sorry to everyone that maybe I disappointed you a bit. I'm sure that the next match here I will try to be at my best level, to make you happy (smiling).