World No. 7 Mirra Andreeva recently shared reflections on her childhood in an interview.
Referring to an old video from when she was ten, where she declared her ambition to win all Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal, Andreeva was asked about when and how she realized her potential to become a top tennis player and where her high aspirations originated.
She responded that she believes every child starting out in sports dreams of achieving great things, aiming to be world number one and win all the major championships. She suggested she was likely one of those children, although she hasn`t accomplished all of those goals yet. However, she remains hopeful for the future and intends to continue believing in herself and working hard.
When questioned if there was a specific moment in her childhood or youth when she truly gained self-belief, Andreeva indicated not in childhood. She mentioned that it`s difficult to claim dominance at the junior level, as junior success isn`t necessarily indicative of future senior achievements. However, she stated that currently, she feels quite confident in her performance on the court, emphasizing confidence in her game rather than just in herself.
Andreeva recounted the words of her former foreign coach, Jean-Rene Lisnard, who noted the immense dedication of Russian parents in supporting their tennis-playing children. She illustrated this by sharing how her parents always prioritized her and her sister Erika`s wishes. If she wanted her father to accompany her to a tournament, he would rearrange his schedule to be there. Similarly, if she preferred her mother to travel with her, they would make it happen. She emphasized that her parents listened to and supported her and Erika in pursuing what they loved, and they continue to do so, for which she is deeply grateful.
Asked if she ever considered that she might have sacrificed a significant part of her childhood for tennis and missed out on experiences common to other children, and if she resented this, Andreeva denied any resentment. She affirmed that she had a wonderful childhood, recalling it with fondness and near tears of joy. She described it as a golden time, particularly the summers spent at her grandparents` house, playing endlessly with Erika. While it was always a little sad when her parents would interrupt their play to take them to training, she has no regrets and cherishes her childhood memories dearly.
