Mirra Andreeva confirms coaching change in Melbourne
Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva has confirmed a change to her coaching setup while in Australia.
Andreeva was previously a part of the Lisnard Academy in France but says that while she will still be based in France she will have a coach travelling with her.
Andreeva’s instructors, Jean-René Lisnard and Jean-Christophe Faurel, who both work at the elite tennis academy, one of the most prestigious tennis facilities in the world, which is situated in Cannes in France, are two men who have undoubtedly moulded Andreeva as a player in a short space of time.
However she feels that she needs more of a dynamic presence with her on tour to aid her rapid progression in the game.
She confirmed that Russian coach Kirill Kryukov had joined her team.
“Previously, I’ve been training at Lisnard Academy, but not this time. We are still based in France, but on the other courts. I have Russian coach Kirill Kryukov, he travelled with me being the main part of my team.”
Andreeva, who is 16 years old, is the youngest player in the world’s Top 100 and is expected to enter the Top 40 after the Australian Open. The Russian prodigy, who headlined the girl’s singles final twelve months ago, has had an incredible in the time between trips to Melbourne.
To go to the third round, Andreeva defeated both Bernarda Pera and her hero Ons Jabeur. She defeated Diane Parry in the third by coming back from a 1-5 down in the third set and a match point down in the final tiebreaker.
Andreeva lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round of the Australian Open but has shown plenty of potential.
Former World No 1 Lindsay Davenport believes that Andreeva might be a future Grand Slam and will almost certainly reach the top ten.
“I think everybody in tennis and the players know she is the real deal,” Davenport told the Tennis Channel.
“She is coming; She is going to be in the Top 10. She’s going to be in the conversation of being a Grand Slam champion. You just never know when the player reaches that point in their own mind. Sometimes, it is this young. Sometimes it might take until 17 or 18.
“Gauff wins a major at 19, but we started talking about her when she was 15. Maybe it is now for Andreeva. Let’s wait and see how she follows up her big win after taking out Jabeur so easily.”
READ MORE: Andy Murray jumps to 16-year-old ‘winner’ Mirra Andreeva’s defence after commentary nitpicking
