Wimbledon 2023: Mirra Andreeva hails ‘amazing’ Emma Raducanu, but says thoughts of emulating Brit ‘disturb’ her

Mirra Andreeva has hailed Emma Raducanu’s “amazing” 2021 US Open win, but says she tries to keep thoughts of a repeat far from her mind.

The parallels between the two are striking: both are prodigiously talented at a young age, both have reached the fourth round in their first Wimbledon main draw, and both have backed up their first major appearance with an even better run in their second one.

There is another similarity in the sense that Andreeva could yet emulate Raducanu in becoming only the second-ever player to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier.

Andreeva, however – while admitting her admiration for Raducanu – is not entertaining thoughts of a repeat.

“Of course, in 2021 she did amazing job,” Andreeva began in her post-match press conference.

“Everyone was impressed. I think she was impressed also to pass the qualifiers and to win the slam at 18. It’s amazing.

“But me, I just try to not think about it. I think it will disturb me, all these thoughts. I just try to play every match and don’t think how far I have gone already or which round I’m playing, against who I’m playing.

“I just try to play every point. Doesn’t matter against who. Doesn’t matter which round. I just play my game. I don’t change anything mental-wise, tennis-wise. So, yeah, I’m just playing.”

If Andreeva revealed herself as a keen student of the game with her memories of Raducanu’s triumph, she went further by admitting she tries to imitate two GOATs of the men’s game.

“I always admire [Roger] Federer and he was always my favourite player,” Andreeva said.

“But after [Rafael] Nadal, he won the French Open in 2022. I was really impressed because after an injury, he came back, he won the Australian Open, he won the French Open.

“After that, I can say that now mental-wise I just try sometimes to copy him [Nadal]. I just try to remember what would he do in these moments, what would he do on the score.

“Sometimes, yes, I can say that I copy him.”

“Honestly, after Paris I just had quite a long talk with myself, just me and myself, and that’s it,” she said.

“I talked to myself. I just talked. I don’t know, just in my head I realised some things.

“I took some decisions that I think are now important for me. I think I did a good job because now everything is working so far.

“Yes, I just talked with myself, and I decided everything what I have to do next. So far it’s working.”

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