Inspired by the legend, Andreeva shines in AO opener

Author: Richard Pagliaro @Nowtennis | Sunday, January 12, 2025
Photo credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty

The young man's shrewd court consciousness allowed him to Mira Andreeva A major threat.

Today, Andreeva aims to move forward and look back on the journey of a versatile artist.

Pegula: Swiatek shell evokes belief and frustration

French Open semi-finalist Andreeva displays ambitious offensive sweep Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.

A year ago, Andreeva defeated Ons Jabeur in her tournament debut to reach the fourth round of AO. She returned to Melbourne this year ranked 15th and is well on her way to breaking through into the top ten.

17-year-old Andreeva is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinezbut cites another Grand Slam champion as her tennis role model: Martina Hingis.

Hall of Famer Hingis won three consecutive Australian Open titles from 1997 to 1999.

Miss Switzerland's front-foot attack and near-net skills inspired Andreeva to improve her net skills.

Andreeva won 14 of 21 attempts at the net today, sometimes using her precise returns to launch drives to the net. Andreeva, who like Hingis has a deadly two-handed backhand, scored 11 of 15 points on Buzkova's second serve.

Andreeva considers Hingis a stylistic soul sister.

“I've always liked the way Martina Hingis plays. I would say I see some similarities,” Andreeva said. “She plays the game smart, too. I would say she plays the game smart, and I play the game smart like her.

“I'm trying to, you know, play smart, but I think the difference is she's never afraid to, you know, come up and finish and be more aggressive.”

Andreeva is fast on the court and said she is learning to use her speed as an offensive weapon and transitioning to the net.

“Now I'm just starting to learn how to do that,” Andreeva said of her efforts to improve her online game. “I just, you know, the first game I started this year, I was trying to force myself to finish at the net or get on the court.”

“I would say that when I watch [Martina Hingis] “In games, she always, whenever she gets a chance, she always comes up and tries to finish it in a more aggressive way,” Andreeva said. “And Steffi Graf, I would say her slice is tricky, I would say, she plays it really like Conchita's slice, and then she'll turn around and hit the forehand, so I don't use a lot of slices. (Smiles). But I can see some similarities between me and Martina Hingis.