AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2024

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/D. Parry

1-6, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Mirra, well done. Into the round of 16 after a big comeback. Talk us through your thoughts on the match today.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: It was a tough match. She played really well in the first set. It was really tough for me to do something.

Then I just found my way. Honestly, overall it was a crazy match for me. In the third set I didn't really expect to come back, but I did it, so I'm very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Who would like the first question, please?

Q. Two very contrasting matches in your last two rounds. One straightforward and one kind of a battle. Which kind of match do you prefer?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I think it's obvious (smiling). I would prefer to win in straight sets. I think everybody would.

But it's also good to win when you're fighting for every point. I think I will have a lot of matches like this in my career. I'm just happy with the win. I don't care how I win exactly with the score and the time, I just want to win. If it takes three sets, then I'm happy to win with three sets. If it takes two sets, then of course I'm happy to win with two sets.

Q. If you could take us inside your head at 5-1 down in the third set, then at 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, could you take us on the journey of what was going on in your brain as you mounted that comeback.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, after winning the second set I was pretty confident in myself. I said I won five games in a row, that's good. I broke her several times. I just need to continue like this. I was in a very good mindset.

Then she started well. She broke me right away. I had a few opportunities on 2-0 on her serve, but then it didn't work. At 5-1, I don't know, I just tried to win at least one more game to not go 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. What is the score? I just try to win one more game to at least be 6-2 in the third.

Then 5-2, she has match points. I'm going to the net. I'm thinking, Am I crazy? I'm going to the net on match point. But then she missed a ball.

I don't know, just the adrenaline, the desire, the feeling that I want to win. 5-3, I don't know, I tried to break her back. 30-Love, then 30-All, I missed returns. I'm like, God, okay, that's it.

Then two crazy points. I don't know. I feel like when you're coming back from this score, it's kind of easy on a mental side for you. It's easier than for your opponent, for sure, because you're on the run, you're having all the adrenaline. That's what I had today.

6-5, I lost my serve. It was like, okay, 6-All. I didn't think that's it. I already knew that I will win, but I just have to do everything for it.

Q. I know you're a big admirer of Andy Murray. He tweeted that he was watching your match. What is your reaction to that? Also he said that he thinks one of the reasons you were able to come back is because you were harsh on yourself. How do you balance being harsh on your yourself but knowing you can get back in a match?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly I didn't really think that he would watch a match, then after he would tweet, he would comment something. Honestly, I will try to print it out somehow. I don't know, I will put it in a frame. I will bring it everywhere with me. I will maybe put it on the wall so I can see it every day (smiling).

Honestly I didn't expect him to do anything about this match, so...

The second question, I'm sorry?

Q. He thinks one of the reasons you were able to come back is because you expect so much of yourself.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yeah, that's true. Because I won the last time I played her, I had kind of an advantage. I felt like that maybe I should win because I won pretty easy on the score. Maybe I should win this match.

When you think like this, it's always happens like 1-6 in the first set. Then I just decided to, I don't know, fight, to win one game at a time.

Maybe being harsh on myself actually helped me. I don't know. I just try to think positively. This harshness, let's say, helped me with it because I am not very positive in my head usually. I don't know. I just kept pushing myself. I was saying not good words to myself.

I think that helped me, that pushed me, so...

Q. With how quickly everything is happening for you, do you ever get a moment to think about how life is going to change for you? Do you ever think about the things you're missing out as a 16-year-old and what other 16-year-old girls are doing?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Actually, no. I like being here. I like to travel all over the world. I'm okay with what's happening, so...

But I didn't really have time to think what's happening. I don't think it's a big deal. I mean, fourth round, yes, I'm 16, maybe it's a bit new. Honestly, I don't think that I did something amazing. I'm just trying to win a match. I'm just trying to fight.

Fourth round is nothing. Maybe if I win a slam, I have to win three more matches, and it's really tough to win seven matches in a row.

I don't think that I did something incredible. I have time to do it, I hope. Yeah, I think I answered on your question.

Q. I don't know if you know this, but your game is quite often compared to Martina Hingis'. You're so young. Most of Martina Hingis' career was before you were even born. I wonder how aware you are of that comparison and her game?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I actually watched a lot of her matches. I heard that people compare me to her. I really like the way she plays. But I think we're a bit different in a way that she plays smart. She kind of reads the game. I feel like she's a bit more aggressive. She's not afraid to go to the net. Me, I prefer to stay on the baseline. If I have an opportunity, I go to the net of course.

I feel like when she played, she always wanted to go in front. She always wanted to go to the net to finish the point. Me, I mean, I can finish the point on the baseline, I feel okay.

As I said, I watched a lot of matches. The final of Roland Garros against Steffi Graf, I watched this match. I don't know, I felt so bad for her. Of course, Steffi Graf was also an amazing player. She played really good. I don't know, I felt really sad watching her kind of, I don't know, all this crowd was on her. I watched this match several times. Every time I feel the same way: that she didn't really deserve it.

Q. Is that something you do, watch old matches?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, I do watch a lot of matches. I watch the Australian Open when I'm in the room, the night sessions, all this stuff. When there is no tournament, for example on the off-season, I like to watch some old matches. My favorite one is Federer/Nadal in 2017 or 2018 when Federer won the final. I don't know, I like to watch some old tennis, if I can say 'old'.

Q. You were on Court 3 today which is a court without an on-court interview at the end. Do you like doing that on-court interview?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I didn't have a lot of experience doing the on-court interviews. I don't know. It doesn't depend on me whether I do the on-court interviews or not.

Of course, I like to talk. I like to speak to the fans. I like to hear the support. So I think I can hear more support when I talk, when I do the interviews.

Today on the Court 3, we didn't have this. I'm okay with this also. It doesn't depend on me, as I said. I'm okay.