Korneeva, rough diamond of the tennis world: "I enjoy working with Anabel Medina a lot"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 28 Jun 2026 | 10.01

Alina Korneeva, who is she and what is expected of her at Wimbledon 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Alina Korneeva will compete in Wimbledon 2026 for the first time as a professional after convincingly advancing through the qualifying rounds. The 19-year-old Russian, long considered one of the great promises in world tennis, aims to continue progressing in a career that many have long touted as one of the most promising of her generation.

While Mirra Andreeva's emergence has largely dominated the spotlight over the past two years, Alina Korneeva has always been part of conversations about the future of women's tennis. The junior champion of the 2023 Australian Open, where she defeated Andreeva in a memorable final, the Russian has taken a more measured path towards the elite.

Having long set up her training base at the Rafa Nadal Academy under the guidance of Anabel Medina, and now breaking into the Top 100 for the first time this year, she arrives at the All England Club feeling that the time has come to start scripting a new chapter in her career.

Alina Korneeva is ready to make her mark at Wimbledon: debut against Birrell

Qualifying for the Wimbledon main draw signifies much more than just entry for Korneeva. The Russian acknowledges that she needed to go through the qualifying rounds to gain experience on a surface she had barely explored in her professional career.

"Until two days ago, I hadn't secured any wins on grass in the professional circuit," she confessed. "Playing directly in the main draw would have been challenging because mentally and physically I wasn't prepared. Now, having had the opportunity to play three matches, I understand much better how to compete on this surface, and I believe that will help me."

Her words reflect the ease with which she is navigating a transition that many have been anticipating for some time. While her tennis has always been admired, the adjustment to the professional circuit has required more patience compared to, for instance, Mirra Andreeva. Far from rushing, Korneeva has been accumulating experience until feeling ready to compete with the best.

Qualifying will also allow her to discover for the first time the atmosphere reserved for the top players of the tournament, something she admitted she was eagerly looking forward to.

"Seeing all the main draw facilities, sharing space with the best players in the world, and enjoying such beautiful courts surrounded by nature, flowers, and greenery is a huge motivation. I am very happy to be able to live this experience."

Anabel Medina's role in her development

One of the lesser-known aspects of Korneeva's journey is the significant influence Anabel Medina Garrigues has had on her evolution.

Their relationship started three seasons ago at the Rafa Nadal Academy, and since then, the Spaniard has become one of the key figures in her sporting career. Interestingly, just as Mirra Andreeva works alongside another Spanish former tennis player, Conchita Martínez, Korneeva has also found in a Spanish coach the ideal figure to guide her development.

"I have always worked with female coaches. Since I started playing tennis, I had two coaches in Moscow, and I never thought that a coach necessarily had to be a man. The personal connection is what matters to me." That connection was established very early on.

"I have been working with Anabel at the academy for three years now. We started during a preseason, and we connected very quickly. I am enjoying it a lot with her. I hope she is not struggling with me," she joked. Korneeva also revealed one of the images that best encapsulates the competitive philosophy Medina tries to instill in her before each match.

"Before the match, she told me I had to be like a snake, bite and keep biting until the end, not leaving any chance for the opponent to escape. That was my goal during the match."

A generation marked by Mirra Andreeva

It is impossible to talk about Korneeva without mentioning Mirra Andreeva. Both grew up almost simultaneously, shared junior tournaments, and starred in one of the most remembered finals of the 2023 Australian Open junior, where Korneeva eventually triumphed after over three hours of battle and consoled an emotional Andreeva at the end of the match.

Since then, their paths have diverged significantly. While Andreeva has already become a Grand Slam champion and one of the leading figures on the circuit, Korneeva has needed more time to settle into professional tennis.

However, she does not view this difference as added pressure. "I wouldn't say she is an inspiration because she is my age and outside the court we don't have much of a relationship. But, of course, I follow tennis and see all that she is achieving." The Russian was full of praise for her former rival.

"I think it's amazing how much she has improved and all that she is doing. She absolutely deserves the results she is achieving because she has worked extremely hard. Reaching the Top 10 so quickly and staying there is extremely challenging. She has done a fantastic job." However, she also made it clear that she is not stuck in the past.

"That final of the Australian Open was a great memory, but it happened four years ago. Now we are completely different people, we have matured, and we play a different kind of tennis. I will always remember her, but now I am in a different moment. It's time to create new memories for the future."

Alina Korneeva, a promise ready to fulfill

Korneeva has been on lists of future stars of world tennis for years. She won two junior Grand Slam titles, dominated much of her generation, and was long considered one of the biggest promises on the circuit. However, the transition to professionalism does not always follow the same pace for all players.

While some make an immediate impact, others require a longer maturation process before establishing themselves among the best. Everything indicates that Korneeva belongs to this latter group. Her entry into the Top 100 and qualification for the Wimbledon main draw represent significant steps, but also mark the beginning of a phase where expectations will give way to the demands of the elite.

At 19 years old, Alina Korneeva still has much room for growth. Working with an experienced coach like Anabel Medina, demonstrating enough personality to handle pressure since her junior years, and gaining experiences on the big stages, perhaps Wimbledon 2026 is not yet the tournament of her definitive breakthrough, but it can be where she transitions from being solely a promise to starting to build her own name in the circuit. Because, as she succinctly put it, the time has come to create "new memories for the future."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Korneeva, diamante en bruto del tenis mundial: "Disfruto mucho trabajando con Anabel Medina"

Alina Korneeva