"I call our sport snake sport": Rising Russian Alina Korneeva makes honest admission on relationship with Mirra Andreeva

Wednesday, 07 February 2024 at 21:00

Alina Korneeva has seemingly denied any sort of friendship with fellow teen prodigy, Mirra Andreeva, despite the latter calling them best friends after their 2023 Australian Open girls' final.

Korneeva who is making her first strides onto the senior tour after taking further time to play on the juniors unlike Andreeva teamed up with the 16-year-old during girls doubles and defeated her in the final of the singles. She subsequently reached No.1 in the ITF junior world rankings and won her second girls' major at the 2023 French Open.

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With the duo both making strides in the senior game, the question of their relationship has cropped up and has been batted away. But Korneeva speaking to Sportskeeda during the Mumbai 125k this week spoke about their relationship and said it's difficult to have any friends and it isn't something she wants hinting that her and Andreeva aren't in fact friends and more just colleagues.

She also called tennis a 'snake sport' and said as a result she just focuses on herself, her game and her circle in her quest to head towards the top. Damning enough from Korneeva who will hope to follow Andreeva in her rise after starting senior tennis life fully.

"I think in sports, it is really difficult to have a friend – really difficult. And I can’t say that I want it," she said to Sportskeeda.

"Because, I call our sport ‘snake sport.’ And my brother calls it snake sport, I think it is really true. So I don’t think about this and just focus on myself," she added.

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Korneeva Comes Through The other 16yo Russian phenom (see Andreeva, Mirra) avoids the upset as Alina Korneeva rallies past local hero Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, in Mumbai. With the win, the 2023 Aussie Open junior champ sets up a quarterfinal clash with Storm Hunter.

4:22 PM · Feb 7, 2024

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