Mirra Andreeva defeated Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 in Rome, advancing to the quarterfinals where she will face Coco Gauff once again, just as she did last year. The Russian tennis player shared her insights on the match, her progress through the draw, her doubles campaign, her dog’s abilities, and her current academic situation in an interview.
“Today was a tough match. I had only played against her in doubles before, never in singles, so I had an idea of what she could do on court. But singles is very different from doubles. She’s a difficult opponent—she changes rhythm a lot and plays in a somewhat erratic way. I tried to focus on my own game and play aggressively, but not just hit everything; I had to choose the right decisions,” Andreeva explained.
When asked about coach Conchita Martinez’s game plan, she said: “The plan always starts with me—she tells me how to play better and what I need to do on court. Then we analyze my opponent’s game, where she is weaker and stronger, and what to do against her. So everything built from me first.”
On the weather difference compared to her doubles match the previous day, she noted: “The weather was very different from yesterday. It was very windy, and there were planes flying overhead—I was told they were rehearsing something. Conditions were tough, but I’m glad I managed to stay focused and not let it distract me.”
Regarding the court change from the BNP Paribas far court to the SuperTennis Arena, the third-largest court, she commented: “Honestly, all the courts here feel the same to me, and the lines are also identical. They’re a bit crooked, but it’s the same for everyone, so I didn’t notice much difference. It just looks a bit smaller from the outside.”
Looking ahead to her quarterfinal against Coco Gauff, Andreeva said: “I’ll see what Conchita tells me. I’ve played her many times, including last year in Madrid and Rome. We’re meeting again in the quarterfinals this year, so it will be a tough match. She’s a fighter and plays very well. I feel I’m also improving on clay, so I think it will be an interesting match.”
On her doubles debut in Rome with Diana Shnaider, she added: “The doubles match was also tough. We had to wait a bit due to some delays on court. I’m very happy we managed to win. The opponents were strong—even though we led throughout the first set and had match points in the second, they came back well. I’m glad we pulled through.”
When asked about privacy concerns with cameras filming players in unwanted areas, and Roland Garros’s plans to cover such