Tennis
Mikhail FILIMA: “I’m sure this will be a very difficult match for us”
Captain of the Ukrainian women’s tennis team Mikhail Philima In a comment, Sport.ua talked about the expectations for the Billie Jean King Cup match against the Netherlands, which will be played on the indoor hard courts of the SEB Arena in Vilnius on 11-12 November.
– How did the Lithuanians welcome the team? What are the court and living conditions like?
– Everything is perfect to a very high level. It was not a coincidence that we chose this place because the conditions are good here. In general, the SEB Arena complex is very comfortable, the center court is convenient, has a stable surface – it is always there, it is not arranged immediately before the match. We also have a good hotel 10-15 minutes away by car. The preparation conditions for the match are excellent.
– Which jersey did the Ukrainians wear in the match? After all, some of them haven’t played for a month…
– Yes, Diana did not have any tournaments, but she kept her form. Yastremskaya took a break for 10-12 days, she was recovering, but then she began to prepare for the match. Today he and Angelina were at their last training session and it seems to me that they had a pretty good game. They played with each other, but these were not direct games; the girls performed tasks under special conditions to avoid conflicts before the match. It was a great workout. I hope we did everything we needed to do. I’m looking forward to the matches tomorrow.
– Kalinina is in the national team for the first time. How does he feel in an already established team?
-I hope he’s comfortable. I personally try to do everything possible to at least make the player feel all the nuances. From how the workout is structured to other little details. Of course he’s excited for the match tomorrow. After all, this is not only a first in national team matches, but also a first as the team’s number one. That’s why we will do everything to support him.
– Why were Yastremskaya and Zavatskaya at the press conference?
– It was not a press conference organized by the players. I had to at least be there, but how many players and who – it was what was available to us. It so happened that the day before the press conference, Dayana and Katya started training, so it was convenient for them to come. Sisters Angelina and Kichenok then started training.
– How did you choose the coating this time?
– Of course, we talked about this with the girls. Unfortunately, we cannot play at home, so we need to find the most suitable match for the organization. It’s November, this is definitely a lounge. Indoors, he plays 90% on hard ground, and his rivals, especially Arancha Rus, show their best results on clay. It is difficult for Kalinina and Yastremskaya, so everything turned out that way.
– We know Arancha Rus well. What can you say about the other contestants? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
– The girls know more about number two Susan Lamens. He also plays defensive tennis, keeping the match in play as much as possible and using sharp shots. The speed coverage here is average, so let’s see how our players will handle it.
Demi Schurs is an experienced player who has won major tournaments. And if the fate of the match is decided in the doubles match, it will be a very difficult match for us. I wish I could finish it by then.
– Is the captain’s job different in terms of match mentality against the favorites, as in the case of the Czechs, and against foreigners, as the representatives of the Dutch team seem at first glance?
– Yes, these are different matches, different squads, different atmospheres. I wouldn’t say these matches are the same in terms of the percentage of favorites versus underdogs. Of course, we are a slight favorite on paper, but I am sure it will be a very difficult match for us.
-Did Dayana Yastremskaya leave the Czech Republic match early? Were there any misunderstandings after that?
– No problem, we solved it.
– How do you find working with this young team?
– I can’t say it’s a young team, it’s already experienced. Unfortunately, we cannot gather the strongest all at once, but there are reasons for this. Elina Svitolina has not yet returned to training after her injury, Marta Kostyuk had a holiday with her family and I congratulate her. We will try to do everything we can in this match. I hope we will make our team even stronger next year.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Tennis
Andreeva defeated her friend in the semi-finals of a cool tournament! A very strange trick helped
In the confrontation between the Russians, Mirra turned out to be stronger.
18-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide! In the semi-finals, the best Russian tennis player beat 21-year-old compatriot Diana Schneider. As Andreeva admitted, a very strange tactic helped her win – calling her opponent by a different name.
Walk through the tournament bracket
Mirra Andreeva (3rd seed) started the tournament straight from the second round, where she easily beat the representative of the Czech Republic, Maria Bouzkova, in two sets – 6:3, 6:1. Then she faced a serious test: the quarter-finals with the best tennis player in Australia, Maya Joynt. The fans actively supported their compatriot, but this did not help the local athlete: Joint won only two games. Despite the confident victory, Andreeva admitted that the match was tense for her.
“I knew it would be difficult to play against her, especially here with the support of the home crowd, so I was expecting a very difficult match.” And to be honest, I had to stay focused until the very last play. She played a great match, performed very well, and I’m just incredibly happy about today’s victory,” Andreeva said after the match.
Then the semi-finals and the Russian derby – Andreeva against Diana Schneider. For Schneider, the tournament bracket and the path to this meeting were longer by one match. In the first round, Diana beat the Canadian tennis player Leila Fernandez with some difficulty – 7:5, 6:3, then in a tense match she beat the representative of the Czech Republic Katerina Sinyakova – 6:1, 2:6, 7:5. In the quarterfinals, Schneider was stronger than American Emma Navarro – 6:3, 6:3. It should be noted that Diana had very serious opposition on her way to the semifinals.
But before the start of the semi-finals, for many experts it was Andreeva who was the favorite. Firstly, Diana is just gaining momentum and trying to get back to her best form. Secondly, Mirra confidently beat her compatriot in the only head-to-head meeting, which took place two years ago in the first round at a tournament in Brisbane.
“Never mind, I’m weird”
Additional interest in the match was fueled not only by the status of the hidden final, but also by the relationships between the athletes. Most recently, they decided not to perform as a duet anymore. And this is not about sports results, because together they won silver medals at the 2024 Olympics, and last year they took two titles. There were even rumors that the girls had a conflict. However, most fans did not believe this version, deciding that Andreeva simply decided to concentrate on singles. In any case, the meeting in the semi-finals promised to be hot.
And the first set was indeed a tense struggle. Schneider took the first game, after which the swing began until the score became 3:3. Then Mirra seized the initiative and won the first game. Considering that Andreeva had problems at the very beginning of the match, it seemed that Diana would be able to please the audience with intrigue.
The second set also began with an equal fight, however, this time Mirra quickly managed to take control of the game. With the score 2:2, Schneider abruptly switched out of the fight and was no longer able to take a single game. Andreeva calmly brought the matter to the final victory – 6:3, 6:2. The match lasted 1 hour 24 minutes. Many fans noted that the meeting was more like a friendly, although access to the final depended on its result.
And after the victory, Mirra indirectly confirmed that she had no conflicts with her compatriot. She praised her opponent for her vigorous start and noted that it was difficult for her to play against her friend.
— As I already said, before the meeting I was very nervous. On the court I tried to imagine that I was playing against some Needy Schnuper. It’s a made-up name, never mind, I’m weird (laughs). We know each other very well, we play a lot of tournaments together, so it was difficult. But it turned out to be a great match, I’m very pleased with my level of play,” Andreeva said on the court after the semi-final match.
Mirra reached the final of the tournament, where she will meet 19-year-old Canadian representative Victoria Mboko.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Tennis
Mirra Andreeva about the match against Schneider: “I was very nervous and tried to imagine that I was playing against some Needy Schnuper”
Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva, after reaching the finals of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide (Australia), spoke about her level of play and rivalry with Diana Schneider.
In the semifinal match, Andreeva beat Schneider with a score of 6:3, 6:2. The 18-year-old Russian will compete for the trophy with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
— At the beginning of the meeting I was a little passive, I was very worried before this match. Diana started off very well, she managed some great plays and shots. I just tried to stick to the game plan no matter what. As we discussed with [тренером] Conchita, you need to fight for every point, make smart decisions on the court, play your tennis. I’m just very glad that I succeeded.
— You compete with Diana in doubles. How difficult is it to play against her?
— As I already said, before the meeting I was very nervous. On the court I tried to imagine that I was playing against some Needy Schnuper. It’s a made-up name, never mind, I’m weird (laughs). We know each other very well, we play a lot of tournaments together, so it was difficult. But it turned out to be a great match, I’m very pleased with my level of play,” Andreeva said on the court after the semi-final match.
Andreeva and Schneider won silver at the 2024 Olympics and also won two WTA doubles tournaments.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva made it to the finals of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide (Australia).
Andreeva (3rd seed) beat compatriot Diana Schneider (9) in the semifinals with a score of 6:3, 6:2. The tennis players spent 1 hour and 24 minutes on the court.
Andreeva will compete for the title with Canadian Victoria Mboko (8th seed), who beat Australian Kimberly Birrell in her semi-final.
WTA 500. Adelaide International. Adelaide (Australia). Hard. Prize fund – more than 1.2 million dollars
½ finals
Mirra Andreeva (Russia, 3) – Diana Schneider (Russia, 9) – 6:3, 6:2;
Victoria Mboko (Canada, 8) – Kimberly Birrell (Australia) – 6:2, 6:1.
Source: Sportbox
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Andreeva defeated her friend in the semi-finals of a cool tournament! A very strange trick helped
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