Coach of world number two
Aryna Sabalenka, Anton Dubrov, has
heaped praise on young Russian sensation
Mirra Andreeva. The 17-year-old is
regarded as the one for the future and has already produced some incredible
performances in professional tennis.
Dubrov, the coach of current world number two Sabalenka, was recently quoted in a report in which he heaped praise on Andreeva. He further stated that the youngster reminds him of former world number one
Martina Hingis.
”It's deserved, at least because she's 17 years old,” he
said. “And at the age of 17, her game reminds me of Martina Hingis: her
understanding of the court is better than that of the vast majority of players.
She can use any tactics and counter the strength of the opponent well: she
understands better how to neutralize them. Which is very important. If the
girls come out and hope for some shots without playing the rally to the end,
Mirra can neutralize the attack, force them to re-enter the rally. And when you
are not ready for it, neither physically nor mentally, you start to fade away
somewhere.”
The Krasnoyarsk-born star is going through an impressive
campaign. She went on to play in the semifinal of a Grand Slam for the first
time during the French Open. She lost to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in straight
sets with a score of 6-3, 6-1. Andreeva is currently taking part in the China
Open, where she has already booked her place in the round of 32 after beating Irina-Camelia
Begu with a score of 6-7, 6-1, 6-1. She is now set to face Croatia’s Donna Vekic
in the third round of the mega-event. The 28-year-old booked her place in the round
of 32 after beating Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland with a score of 4-6, 7-6,
6-3. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two in professional tennis.