Russian tennis star Mirra Andreeva, currently ranked seventh in the world, has opened up about the significant differences she's experiencing at the Italian Open in Rome compared to her recent tournament in Madrid. The young player highlighted how the slower pace and different ball behavior in Rome required a major adjustment to her game strategy.
Andreeva noted that the courts in Madrid played much faster, partly due to the higher altitude which made the ball travel through the air more quickly. In contrast, the conditions in Rome presented a completely different challenge. During her initial practice sessions, she found herself feeling nervous as the ball simply wasn't moving through the court the way she expected.
"When I started practicing with other players and we began playing points, I wanted to finish rallies quickly, but I felt like the ball just wasn't traveling," Andreeva explained during an interview with Tennis Channel. "All my shots were landing around the service line. My serve became slower, and I couldn't easily win points with my serve or hit winners from the baseline."
The slower conditions initially caused some anxiety for the talented Russian, who is accustomed to more aggressive, power-based tennis. She found that her usual weapons weren't as effective in Rome's environment, which required her to rethink her approach to matches.
However, Andreeva credits her coach, former world No. 2 Conchita Martínez, with helping her navigate these challenges. The Spanish coach brings invaluable experience from her own playing career, having competed extensively on various surfaces and in different conditions throughout her legendary career.
"We talked with Conchita. Obviously, she has enormous experience playing in such conditions," Andreeva shared. "We discussed everything and were able to adjust my game in time before my first-round match."
The collaboration between player and coach proved crucial in helping Andreeva adapt her tactics. Rather than trying to overpower opponents with pace, she's had to develop a more nuanced approach that accounts for the slower court speed and different ball behavior in Rome.
This adjustment period is a common challenge for professional tennis players moving between tournaments, especially when transitioning from faster to slower conditions. Andreeva's ability to recognize the differences and work with her coaching team to make necessary changes demonstrates the maturity and professionalism that has helped her rise to the top of the women's game.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.