Mirra Andreeva is aware of people saying her game resembles that of ex-No.1 Martina Hingis but says there are distinct differences between the two.
The 16-year-old is causing a storm at this year’s Australian Open where she has reached the fourth round. So far in the tournament, she registered her first top-10 win over Ons Jabeur and staged a huge comeback in her latest match against France’s Diane Parry. She was trailing 1-5 to Parry in the final set before fighting back to win 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(10-5). It is the second time she has reached the last 16 of a major event after Wimbledon last year.
Andreeva’s style of play has won her fans with former player and Eurosport pundit Tim Henman labelling the youngster as ‘definitely one to watch’ for the future. Due to her age she has been compared to that of Hingis who was 16 when she won the 1997 Australian Open in what was her first of eight Grand Slam titles won.
“I heard that people compare me to her. I really like the way she plays.” Said Andreeva.
“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 can finish the point on the baseline and I feel okay.”
One particular Hingis match Andreeva remembers was her loss to Stefi Graf in the final of the French Open. Saying she ‘felt so bad’ for the Swiss player who was heckled at by the crowd during what an emotional encounter.
Meanwhile, another Grand Slam winner has voiced his praise for Andreeva on social media. Andy Murray has paid tribute to the mental strength she displayed during her clash with Parry and commented that she was able to turn the match around due to being harsh on herself. Something she agrees with.
“I didn’t really think that he would watch a match, then after he would tweet and would comment something. Honestly, I will try to print it (Murray’s X post) out somehow and put it in a frame.” She joked.
” 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 because I am not very positive in my head usually. I just kept pushing myself. I was saying not good words to myself. I think that helped me, that pushed me.”
Andreeva is only the fourth woman in the past 30 years to reach the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open before their 17th birthday.
