Mirra Andreeva shares how Roger Federer helps her deal with nerves before matches

Mirra Andreeva has enjoyed a dream start to her WTA Finals career by beating Elina Svitolina at Indian Wells.

Making her WTA Finals debut this year, the Russian overcame her Ukrainian counterpart 6-4, 6-0 after just 70 minutes. The 19-year-old won the final seven games of the match in Group 2 at the year-end tournament. Third seed Andreeva now meets former WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka in her second group game of the event.

The Belarusian beat Karolina Muchova 7-6(7-2), 7-5 in her opening match. Ahead of that clash, the current French Open champion has shared a fascinating insight into her mental approach to matches, which involves relying on tennis legend Roger Federer.

Mirra Andreeva watches Roger Federer highlights to help nerves

Speaking to Tennis Channel after beating Svitolina, Andreeva said of her nerves: “You cannot imagine the level of nervousness I have had today. It was probably at the same level as the final of Roland Garros.

“I was very nervous. My first WTA Finals match, I wanted to win and I knew when I saw the draw and my first match would be against Elina, I lost to her in Australia earlier this year, so I knew it would be tough.

“I am just happy with the way that I dealt with my nerves because I felt like it was not easy. I felt like I was walking and my legs were shaking. When I was nervous my arm would be [shaking] when I would do the serve motion, so I was just happy I was able to get through today.”

And sharing how she deals with nerves, the 19-year-old explained: “I am trying to deal with it myself sometimes. I speak with my psychologist and I warm up my mind before I go into the match, so I do the fitness warm-up. I do the mental warm-up as well. It’s a lot of different things.

“For example I can share one of them, I watch Roger Federer highlights against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open final in 2017 and I know almost every single point they are going to play because I watch it before every single match. That is like my routine, I want to feel the same. When I look at Roger I want to feel effortless and also seem like nothing is bothering me on the court.”

Federer is certainly not a bad player to look to for inspiration, with his five-set thriller against Nadal very likely inspiring many others. The Swiss icon beat his Spanish rival 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in Melbourne that year for a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title at the time.

Mirra Andreeva hopes to use nerves to her advantage

Andreeva is, of course, only just getting started in her exciting career, but the teenager has already emulated Federer by winning a Grand Slam title. She beat Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to clinch the French Open trophy earlier this year.

Now, however, her focus is firmly on the WTA Finals, with the small matter of Aryna Sabalenka up next. Andreeva is prepared for more nerves for that clash, but is hoping to use them in her favour.

Mirra Andreeva’s WTA titles

Discussing when the nerves could disappear, she predicted: “I think these nerves will follow me forever until I retire from tennis. But as the legend Billie Jean King said, ‘pressure is a privilege’, so I am going to take it as an advantage.”

It’s a superb attitude from the youngster, who continues to show maturity beyond her years both on and off the court. She trails Sabalenka 2-4 in their head-to-head record, but can take some form of confidence from her memorable French Open quarterfinal victory over the Belarusian back in 2024, when she came from behind to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.

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Esta notícia foi originalmente publicada em: Fonte original