Korneeva's story of overcoming challenges in the shadow of Nadal: "His support is immeasurable"

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Alina Korneeva was destined to be one of the best Russian tennis players alongside Mirra Andreeva. In fact, both competed in the final of the 2023 Australian Open junior. Just a few months later, Korneeva won Roland Garros junior, and everything seemed to indicate she would soon break into the professional circuit. However, while Andreeva was making a name for herself on the WTA tour, Korneeva was forced to pause in early 2024 due to a wrist tendon injury that necessitated surgery in April. This seven-month break saw her go from being on the doorstep of the top 100 to returning to ITF tournaments.

Nevertheless, the Russian made a strong comeback by winning the W100 in Caldas de Rainha, Portugal, beginning her love affair with the Portuguese country. A year later, she repeated this feat by consecutively winning the W50 in Leiria and W50 in Évora in Portugal, climbing to world No. 156, close to where she was before her injury. Her outstanding performance and strong potential, at just 18 years old, attracted the interest of Anabel Medina, who coaches her with the support of Joan Carles Alcalá Llinares, all under the umbrella of the Rafa Nadal Academy, her training base. In an interview with journalist Szymon Przybysz, she talked about her injury, future goals, and the presence of Rafa Nadal during her most challenging moments.

Struggles to return to competition after wrist surgery

"I played four tournaments and lost in the first round four times. It was tough mentally, so the final in Figueira da Foz was crucial for me. I lost the title match, felt disappointed, but playing several matches in a row was necessary for me to find my rhythm after such a long break from competition."

The challenges of being out of competition for many months

"My entire team helped me through this. I did not play for over six months in 2024. I isolated myself. I deleted tennis apps and stopped following other players' results. I did not want to watch any matches. When I struggled and saw others playing while I sat in my room, sometimes practicing for an hour a day, it was tough. There were very difficult moments. There were periods when I felt quite angry every day."

Reflecting on her final with Mirra Andreeva at the 2023 Australian Open Junior

"I had already forgotten about that match. I think the first year after that match was a time when I remembered many of the emotions I felt. It was so intense that I dreamed about that final several times. Then I realized that my junior stage had ended, and I needed to focus on the present. On one hand, thinking about past successes can boost your confidence. On the other hand, if you dwell on it, you are anchored to the past and not focused on the present. At some point, I completely forgot about my junior successes. I became a woman, compete professionally in tennis, and that's where my complete focus lies. I am changing my mindset because the differences in that aspect are huge."

Future goals

"I want to be healthy. It may sound ridiculous to say that I have experience at 18, but recent events have made me realize even more the value of health. I have understood that it is the most important and tennis comes after."

Training at the Rafa Nadal Academy and the closeness to the Mallorcan

"His support is immeasurable. There are many experienced coaches and great players. They tried to reassure me every day. They addressed various issues with Rafa, as he underwent multiple surgeries throughout his career. It was a great support. He knows exactly how to handle the pressure of returning from serious injuries. When he retired, I did not see him for a few months. Now that has changed; I see him much more often. Every time he sees me, he asks how I feel, shows empathy, and tells me to see the positive side of every situation," affirmed Elina Korneeva, aiming to return to where she was destined, with the support of the Rafa Nadal Academy.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La historia de superación de Korneeva bajo la sombra de Nadal: "Su apoyo es incalculable"