Mirra Andreeva defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 on Monday in her opening match at the WTA Finals.
The victory marked a dominant start for the 19-year-old at the season-ending tournament, though her preparation involved a surprising mental routine.
Nerves Before the Opener
Despite the straight-sets scoreline, Andreeva admitted she struggled with severe tension before walking onto the court. “You can’t imagine how nervous I was today,” she told Tennis Channel after the match. “Probably as much as in my Roland-Garros final.
I was walking and my legs were shaking. When I made the serving gesture, my arm was moving like that.” She added that she was ultimately pleased with how she managed the pressure.
The 2017 Australian Open Ritual
To calm her nerves, Andreeva incorporates a specific video into her pre-match preparation. Alongside work with her sports psychologist, she routinely watches highlights of the 2017 Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, tennisworldes.com reported.
“I practically know all the points they are going to play because I watch that video before every match,” the Russian player explained. She noted that watching Federer helps her chase a sense of natural ease and composure on the court, aiming to look unperturbed by high-stakes pressure.
Chasing Federer’s Calm
Andreeva’s admiration for Federer heavily influences her approach to major tournaments. She has previously pointed to his career evolution as proof that emotional control can be learned. By watching the Swiss maestro manage pressure in historical moments like his five-set win over Nadal in Melbourne, Andreeva attempts to replicate that same relaxed demeanor when facing critical points in her own matches.
Worth a look
