AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2025

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/M. Frech

6-2, 1-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to be back in the round of 16 here in Melbourne?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: It feels great. I have had two tough matches, but I just happy that I managed to win those matches, and of course, super pumped to play the round of 16 here again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Do you feel the difference in terms of going into these matches feeling that you're supposed to win, whereas recently, like, a year ago, maybe there was more of an underdog energy around you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I have a feeling that I kind of have a certain level on the tour, and I just think that for me it's not very good to have this feeling, so I'm just trying to, you know, keep my mind out of it and not to think about it, because I know I play great and play my best tennis when I just don't think about anything, and I just try to, you know, play on the moment without thinking about anything.

So I have this feeling sometimes, but I'm just trying to fight it (smiling).

Q. Aryna next. How are you feeling about that?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, I'm so tired to play against her. It's, like, I don't know. I think she's the one player that I've -- I don't know. I played her four or five times already. So, yeah, it's a lot. So what can I say? Here we are again.

I know that probably it's going to be an entertaining match, and of course, I'm going to do everything possible. I'm going to give my best. I think it's going to be interesting to watch. So we will see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Q. What it's actually like facing her?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: What?

Q. What's it actually like facing her being on the other side of the net? Does it feel very different from other opponents, the aura, and that kind of thing?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, of course, she also has a certain level, so it's always -- I don't know. I feel like I'm trying to feel like, you know, it's another match, and I'm just going on court and trying to win and do my best, but of course, sometimes there are thoughts that are, you know, I feel like, Okay, she's No. 1, maybe it's okay if, you know, this doesn't work. I don't know. Or maybe I play not that good here... well, I mean, she's No. 1, it's okay.

When we played in Brisbane, I had those thoughts, but I have talked a lot about this. Now I know what to do, and I figured it out. So I think that this time is it's going to be a bit better.

Q. On the video that WTA made for the new year, most of the players select you as the new top-10 this year or the one who, even you, you also said. How are you dealing with the expectations? Do you feel totally natural for you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, when I saw the video, I was actually pretty surprised that a lot of people said my name.

I don't know. I don't actually feel any pressure about this. I'm sure that it's a matter of time until I'm in top 10.

So I have a lot of points to defend this year, so we're gonna see. It's pretty interesting for me to see as well how can I deal with that pressure, but when everyone is saying that, Okay, she's gonna be top 10, she's gonna be the first one who will enter the top 10 from younger players, I don't know, I feel like, Okay, well, I'm just gonna try to do so.

Q. You're currently the only teenager in the top 100. I know you're focused on the competition who is here with you at the top of the WTA rankings. Are there any teenagers who maybe people haven't heard of as yet that you know of because they're in your generation who you think are going to be particularly good, any names of people who are on your radar you're expecting to do some big thing some day?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Honestly, I don't know (laughing). Like, teenagers... well, I know that Alina Korneeva, the girl I played in 2023 final, I think that she could have a potential. But honestly, I'm not very good with names and with, you know, teenagers that are also kind of playing.

So I know her. I know her for a long time. So I think that she could play really good on the WTA circuit.

So I think that, because I don't know anybody else, and I think she actually has a good potential, so let's just say her.

Q. Comparing the first time that you played Aryna back in that first Madrid run to even playing her again in Brisbane and then obviously you're about to play her again, where do you see the gap closing the most for you? Where do you see that you are getting closer to, especially on a fast court, a hard court, getting that win on a hard court?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I would say that playing her on clay court and a hard court is a completely different matches. If we compare me to that very first match in Madrid, I would say that I was so scared, to be honest. I was so scared to hit the ball, and I was afraid of that big court and big stadium.

There was a lot of people who are watching the match. So I was, like, a bit tight and I was, like, Oh, my God, what is going on? So that was a bit tough. But, of course, now I also have more experience playing on bigger courts, and of course, I faced her a lot of times.

So yeah, as I said, playing her on clay court is, I would say, a bit easier. Of course on the hard courts, like here in Melbourne, I would say that for me is one of the fastest hard courts.

So, of course, this is not going to be easy. Yeah, we're just gonna see if I can handle the pressure and everything that's gonna happen tomorrow.

Q. I enjoyed your video with Conchita and Nick in the cinema sessions thing. What was that like to record? It's a unique thing they do here.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, for me, I think it was the first time we did the interview together with Conchita. So it was funny because she was supposed to do it actually alone. She asked me, Well, do you want to come? I was, like, Yeah, of course.

Last year I also did this, and I remember they had really good popcorn. So I was, like, I'm gonna come, for sure.

So we started doing this, and they showed a lot of clips when she was playing and when I was playing, and we just talked through it. But yeah, I liked it a lot. It was fun. I also made some jokes.

Yeah, it was really fun for me.

Q. I saw a picture of yourself and your sister, Erika, having the breakfast at the bed. I want to ask how it is for you to have your sister also in the tour. I mean, many players have also some sisters or brothers, but for you, how do you deal with your sister also on the tour, and your mom, as well?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, obviously I would say that she's a No. 1 person that I would come to to hear some words of support. She supports me a lot, and I also try to give it back to her. I know that it's not easy.

But actually, I don't know if I like it, because we already faced each other once, and it was a disaster. Not, like, tennis-wise, but just what was going on during that day and during the match, as well, was, I would say, the hardest match of my career so far.

Tennis-wise it's not great, but when I think about spending time together during the tournaments and just all the support that I feel from her, and I would say that she's the closest person that I have.

So, you know, of course it's amazing to have her by my side, as well, and we're just trying to support each other all the time. So I think that it's working well.

Q. Another question about Aryna. You played against her, but you also spent some time with her in Abu Dhabi not so long ago. What did you learn about her? How does that help you or not help you?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, the only thing I learned was some dance moves (smiling). Yeah, I would say that first couple of days were a bit, you know, awkward, because we didn't really have a lot to talk about. But then day by day, you know, we started talking more about something. I would say that it's nicer to have her in the same team than, you know, playing against her.

Yeah, for me it was nice to spend some time with her, to get to know her, as well. I know that she's funny, so it was interesting for me to see and to know what she's gonna be like like a person, you know, when you just talk to her, because we never really talked with each other. I think the only thing we said to one another was, like, Hi, how are you? That's it.

And there I got to know her, and she's actually a really nice person, really funny. Yeah, looking back to that, it was great.