AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 11, 2025

Mirra Andreeva

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Mirra, why don't you give us your thoughts on the first Grand Slam of the year.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, I'm always super excited to come to Australia and to play in Melbourne. I played Brisbane before, so just always super excited to come here and play in front of everyone.

It's one of my favorite Grand Slams, so I can't wait to start tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. In terms of how your coach relationship with Conchita has matured or changed or cemented, whatever it is, from when you first started working with her to now, what do you think is the biggest change in terms of just your relationship with her?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say that of course we know each other very well right now, and I think, well, I feel very comfortable telling her everything that happens in my life. I don't know if she wants to hear it though (smiling), but, like, I'm very comfortable sharing with her everything that's going on.

You know, she's aware, I think, of every single thing that's going on. I'm not sure if she shares everything that's going on with her (smiling). Yeah, it's just we have a lot of trust. I like the way that she knows, because, well, of course she's very professional, she knows when the fun is over and when we need to really put the work in, for example, in a tennis court, of course, and when we're off the tennis court, we can have some fun, but of course we also need to take it serious sometimes.

But we let ourselves, you know, joke around and have some fun. So I think that we kind of improved in our relationship in the way that we just know each other better, and we don't need to ask questions, like, we already know what to do or what to say, doesn't matter what happens.

So I think, yeah, I hope it's going to stay the same. I hope that it's just going to get better.

Q. Does she tell you a lot of old war stories, stories back when she was playing, maybe things changed or things like that, or does that not even come up in conversation in terms of your relationship is, like, the fact she's obviously a Grand Slam winning, top-performing player?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, we sometimes talk about when she was playing long, long time ago (smiling), and I ask her some stories, as well. I remember she told me that the tennis has changed so much, so for her it's also interesting to see how women tennis is improving and how it changes.

So of course she tells me stories. I don't know if I can tell you the stories, I'm not going to do that for the moment (smiling), but yeah, we talk a lot about when she was playing. Especially in the beginning of our work together, I asked her a lot of questions about how she dealt with pressure or what any advice she could give me.

For example, I remember we played Wimbledon, and I also asked, Well, can you give me any advice? I mean, you're Wimbledon champion.

Well, as you can see, that advice she gave me was bad, because I lost in the first round (smiling). But yeah, it's just, of course we talk about the past sometimes, and I'm very curious to see what she can say and what she can tell me.

Q. I was wondering if I could ask about your doubles with Diana Shnaider. I think it was your third tournament together in Brisbane and getting the title there. How did that partnership come about? How much do you enjoy playing with her? Is it something you're going to try and look to continue doing this season?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, yes, after playing first time together at the Olympics, we decided that why not continue? Because we played not bad together. After that, we unfortunately were both already agreed for, we were set for the US Open and for U.S. tournaments, and we decided to play together in Asia, so we agreed for Beijing. We were supposed to play Wuhan, but we forgot to sign (smiling), so we skipped Wuhan.

Then after, we just agreed to play, we're set for this year, so we're going to play all the slams, all the Masters, and after, we're just gonna talk and decide whether we want to play, I don't know, 500s or any tournaments before the slams.

We're gonna talk about all this, but I think that we're playing great together, and me, personally, I enjoy our time on court. It's always super fun. Sometimes it can get crazy but in a good way.

So I really enjoy our team, and I hope that we can get more titles together.

Q. You're known as such a cerebral, intelligent player. I'm wondering, what is it that you learn from playing doubles maybe that you can apply to your singles game?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, of course I think playing doubles is kind of, well, I try to improve my game at the net, and I think I am already improving. I can feel that.

I also try to stay brave and, you know, for example on the pressure moments, I force myself to poach sometimes or to go for some shots. I feel like it helps me on the court when I play singles, because I feel like now I'm ready also to maybe take a risk sometimes, you know, if, I don't know, I'm facing down a breakpoint and it's my serve, so I'm trying to also go for a little risk maybe.

I definitely think that doubles, they help -- well, doubles helps me to improve, and yeah, I think that it's also a great opportunity for me to play more doubles and not just focus on singles. But of course singles is always a priority, but I'm just happy that I can have this opportunity to play doubles with her.

Q. It seems to me that you are playing more aggressively, like, on court. First of all, do you agree with that assessment? Secondly, if you do, why do you think that that is? Is it intentional, like, tactical, more up here, or is it tactical, more, yeah, you're just hitting a bigger ball, you're stronger, things like that?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say that yes, I do agree that I started playing a bit more aggressive. That's the thing we have been working on with Conchita. I think I'm doing not bad.

I feel that I have more strength and more power when I hit the ball. Before, when I was younger, you know, I always kind of stay there on the baseline, and I would have to win the point three to four times, because I was afraid and I didn't want to go forward, didn't want to finish the point at the net.

Now every opportunity I have, I try to step in, and I try to, you know, play aggressive and finish the ball, finish the point because, well, I watch a lot of tennis, and I feel like that could help me with my game.

When I see how other players play, like Sinner or Alcaraz or, I don't know, even Aryna, I feel like she improved in that. Well, I also wanted to add something to my game. I'm still working on it. Yeah, I'm just happy that you can see it (smiling).

Q. On the Sabalenka match in Brisbane, obviously the breakpoint chances were a big thing. I was surprised how well you were able to hang in the power rallies and the baseline with her. Did it surprise you as well? How close did you feel in that match if you set aside the missed opportunities?

MIRRA ANDREEVA: Yes, I had a lot of breakpoints...

Q. Sorry to bring it up.

MIRRA ANDREEVA: It's okay (smiling). I did have a lot of breakpoints, and I had a lot of chances to try to stay in there, to win my serve. But then in the end, well, it is tennis. This is what happens.

I think if I would convert all those breakpoints, the score could be completely different, but it didn't happen. I think that I still miss a little bit of experience. I still need to, you know, improve in something.

She's No. 1 for a reason. I guess she's knows how to play under pressure. And I wanted to say that I remember the two breakpoints I had in a row, she served two big serves, so I couldn't do anything. So I guess she knows what to do when the score is like this.

Yeah, I felt like I was there. But it is what it is, you know. It's tennis, it's a game, and it's just what happened on that day. She was better than me.