MELBOURNE, Australia — When Mira Andreeva gained the Adelaide title final weekend, it did not take lengthy to be taught that three of the earlier 4 folks to win that title had gained the Australian Open in the identical yr. That features Madison Keys, who was a shock champion in Melbourne 12 months in the past.
“Sure, I do know (about that),” she informed ESPN in an interview at Melbourne Park after Monday’s first-round win. “We’re completely different folks, completely different gamers, so we attempt not to consider it. We attempt to not let it trouble us.”
Andreeva superior to the third spherical right here on Wednesday, defeating former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-4. However her reluctance to think about a double look on the Adelaide Australian Open might stem from the truth that till just lately she was some of the superstitious gamers on tour.
“Typically it actually drove me loopy,” she stated. “It is like consuming the identical factor, waking up on the identical time, doing all the pieces on the identical time. However in Adelaide, I intentionally broke my routine to see what would occur. And nothing unhealthy occurred. So I am not going to spend any time doing that after that.”
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff stay favorites this yr, however Andreeva is quickly rising. Three years in the past, she misplaced within the girls’s last of the Australian Open. Now, a yr after profitable two WTA 1000 titles and reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, she is seeded eighth and can face Gauff within the final eight.
Expectations convey strain, however Andreeva appears capable of deal with it now. She is much less prone to explode on the court docket or lose focus as she has prior to now, as she confirmed by bouncing again from a set right down to defeat Donna Vekic within the first spherical.
She stated it was tough to deal with the strain at first, however now she is studying the way to take care of all of the expectations positioned on her shoulders. “I really feel prefer it was harder earlier than. The whole lot was new to me and I had no concept if it was regular or what to do,” she admitted. “However now, as time goes on, I speak rather a lot with Conchita (Martinez, her coach) who’s a really skilled coach and a really skilled participant, with the psychologist, with the staff… I simply know that it is regular. There’s going to be strain to defend factors or defend the title or no matter else is occurring in your thoughts (however) I’ve to just accept it and learn to play. That is it.”
Martínez is a key determine within the high 10. The previous Wimbledon champion, like Andreeva, appears relaxed off the court docket. Simply earlier than his match with Sakkari, the pair had been seen chasing one another down the corridors of Melbourne Park. Calm however organized and a supreme tactician, Martinez helped Garbine Muguruza win Wimbledon in 2017 and spent two years teaching Karolina Pliskova.
“I believe our personalities are additionally related, as a result of we each try for a similar factor,” Andreeva stated. “Off the court docket, we wish to joke round and have a variety of enjoyable. And on the identical time, we each perceive that once we get on the sector or once we get on the court docket, we will have enjoyable on the follow court docket as effectively. But it surely’s extra about how we method one thing. It is about how we work collectively and enhance what we’re engaged on. And we sort of know the road the place it is time to cease having enjoyable and cease joking and actually get to work, and I believe that is why it is working so effectively.”
Andreeva is thought for his on-court interviews, which alone are definitely worth the ticket value. “I can say I have been like that each one my life,” she stated. “I like to joke and I like to embarrass folks. That is simply me. That is who I’m and my persona simply comes on the market.”
Andreeva will face Romania’s Elena Gabriela Ruse within the third spherical on Friday. Andreeva has her sights set on a Grand Slam title, however she additionally hopes to keep away from any main accidents.
“I believe my purpose is first to remain wholesome and play freely and with out ache,” she stated. “And to take pleasure in each match I play and be taught new issues. My purpose is to enhance daily as a tennis participant and as an individual. And I believe if I do all the pieces effectively, if I do all the pieces the appropriate approach, perhaps good issues will occur. I hope so.”
