Andreeva: "I didn't lose my level, I just didn't know how to use it in all tournaments"

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The return of Mirra Andreeva to Indian Wells holds a special flavor. One year after claiming the title in the Californian desert, the Russian is back on the stage where she delivered one of the biggest accomplishments of her young career and where her name was definitively established among the top players on the tour.

The young tennis player acknowledges that the place brings back indelible memories. “It feels amazing to be back at this place,” she confessed during the Media Day of the tournament. “I have incredible memories from last year, so I will try to do my best to create new ones this year.”

The inconsistency after her big breakthrough

"I probably didn't lose that level. I was just struggling to play and utilize that level in every tournament I competed in. It was a bit inconsistent, sometimes yes, sometimes no, which was also a new experience for me. But now, if it happens again, I know how to manage it and I know what to do. I wouldn't say I lost the level I was playing at. I just wasn't using it every time I played tournaments."

The “small rivalry” with Mboko

"It's very nice to have someone to share all the emotions and different moments on the tour. I've known her for a long time, since we played together in juniors. It's very nice to be together on the tour now, to have, as you say, that small rivalry, and we are good friends off the court. Well, on the court too. It's nice to have someone who can share the same emotions and feelings as you. Yes, it's nice to have a good friend on the tour."

Another year alongside Conchita Martinez

"Well, I don't know if we have matured (smiles). I think everything is more or less the same. I wouldn't say anything has changed. We still have a lot of fun. We're still on the court, working hard, and we know when it's time to stop having fun and really get to work. Otherwise, I think our relationship remains the same."

Her new dog

"My puppy was supposed to be ultra mini. I think we can all agree it's not ultra mini. Maybe right now it can be mini, but we hope it stays mini and doesn't turn into a Labradoodle. She's a year old. I hope she stops growing and stays the size she is now, because otherwise, it will be very difficult to travel with her. We're praying she doesn't grow anymore and stays like this."

Striving to lead a normal life on the tour

"I think it's quite challenging to lead a normal life when you travel all year round to different countries, but the best thing I can do is try to bring my family with me to the tournaments. Now we can also try to bring our puppy. It's the first time I'm traveling to a tournament with a dog, so it's also a new experience for me: not just focusing on myself, but also taking care of another little creature that follows me everywhere. So it's something new for me, and the best thing I can do is have my family close almost all the time. That's what helps me the most."

No pressure in defending the title

"I was concerned about defending points from Dubai through Roland Garros. So yes, I was thinking a lot about it. But when I arrived in Dubai, all I felt was excitement to be back there, to live new emotions being the defending champion. Again, it was all new to me, but for some reason, I didn't feel the pressure I thought I would feel. It's the same here. I'm very excited to be here as the defending champion, seeing my photos almost everywhere, in every corner. It's nice to be back here and now I don't feel any pressure to defend points."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Andreeva: “No perdí mi nivel, solo no supe usarlo en todos los torneos”