MELBOURNE, Jan 12, 2025 (V7N) – Rising tennis star Mirra Andreeva praised her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, for instilling a fearless mindset after powering into the Australian Open second round on Sunday.

The 17-year-old Russian, seeded 14th, delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova on John Cain Arena. The match was briefly interrupted by rain, prompting the roof to be closed, but Andreeva adapted smoothly to the changing conditions.

Andreeva credited Martinez—who famously defeated Martina Navratilova in the 1994 Wimbledon final—for helping her take bold risks on court. “With her, I kind of became closer to fearless,” Andreeva said. “Before, I would never go for a volley on match point. Here, I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Martinez, known for guiding former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, has quickly built a strong rapport with Andreeva since they began working together last year. The teenager appreciates Martinez’s sense of humor and their shared lighthearted approach off the court.

“I like to joke around and not always be serious,” Andreeva shared. “I was surprised that Conchita is a lot like me. But on court, she knows when to be serious, and I respect that.”

Andreeva has been steadily rising in the tennis world, making the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2023 and repeating that feat at the Australian Open in 2024. Under Martinez’s guidance, she surpassed those results by reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2024.

Reflecting on her growth, Andreeva noted, “I’ve improved everywhere—my serve, forehand, backhand. Now, I like stepping in to finish points at the net. I’m not afraid to be more aggressive.”

Andreeva will next face either Poland’s Magda Linette or Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the second round.

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