Andreeva feels added pressure after previous victories over Krejcikova following recent defeat.
Mirra Andreeva, a 16-year-old Russian, concluded her Australian Open journey in the fourth round on Sunday. She acknowledged feeling additional pressure as she faced an opponent she had previously defeated. Notably, Andreeva gained attention with her victory over the sixth seed Ons Jabeur in the second round and staged a comeback against Diane Parry in the third round.
Having beaten Barbora Krejcikova, the Czech ninth seed, in their previous encounters, Andreeva admitted to feeling a certain level of pressure. She had won 6-3, 4-0 at Wimbledon last year when Krejcikova retired injured and secured a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the China Open in October.
Andreeva stated, “I had a little bit of pressure on myself before the match because I felt like I have an advantage. I beat her twice before. It’s the round of 16. I can go through to the quarter-finals for the first time.”
Despite winning the opening set, Andreeva faced a challenge as Krejcikova mounted a comeback, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Reflecting on the match, Andreeva acknowledged that winning the first set led to a sense of being almost there, but she emphasized the lesson of not equating winning a set to winning the entire match.
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Despite falling short in her attempt to reach a quarter-final for the first time, mirroring her achievement of making it to the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, the young Russian, Mirra Andreeva, will cherish positive memories from her Australian Open experience.
Reflecting on her performance, Andreeva expressed satisfaction, stating, “I think I had a good tournament overall. I played a fourth round for the second time in my life, and I hope it’s not the last.” She highlighted the positive aspects of her journey, including a notable victory over her idol, Ons Jabeur, and the overall positive experience from her last match.
Looking ahead, Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Andreeva, will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. As for Andreeva, she mentioned her plans to compete in the Qatar Open in Doha and the Dubai Tennis Championships next month.