Teenage talent Mirra Andreeva hailed her former Wimbledon champion coach Conchita Martinez for making her "fearless" after blasting into the Australian Open second round on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Russian eased past the Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3, negotiating tricky conditions with rain in the middle of the match forcing the roof to be closed on John Cain Arena.
Martinez, who beat Martina Navratilova to win the 1994 final at the All England Club, hooked up with Andreeva last year and they hit it off immediately.
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"With her, I kind of became closer to fearless," said 14th seed Andreeva, who reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2024.
"For example, before I would never go to play a volley on match point. Here, I decided, 'Why not?'"
She also praised Martinez – who previously coached Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova – for her sense of humour, saying they had similar personalities.
"I really like our relationship, because, well, I like to joke around," she said.
"Sometimes I just, you know, I don't really like to be very serious. I always try to smile and laugh. It's just easier like this.
"Actually I was surprised in the beginning that she's also pretty much like me.
"And since we first started working together, I have noticed that she's always also trying to say a joke or just laugh sometimes.
"And I also like that she's still separating those things when we're on court."
Andreeva served notice of her precocious talent when she reached the last 16 of Wimbledon in 2023 and then again at the Australian Open in 2024.
She eclipsed that under Martinez by reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros.
"I would say that I have improved everywhere, but everywhere for a little bit," said Andreeva.
"We improve my serve, we improve my forehand, my backhand. I now also like to step in and finish the point at the net. I'm not afraid to step in the court and to go forward and to try to be even more aggressive.
"So we have improved everywhere, I would say, because we have been working hard on those elements of my game, so I can see the difference."
She will next face either Poland's Magda Linette or Japan's Moyika Uchijima.
Our first winner of #AO2025 👏
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 12, 2025
Mirra Andreeva is up and running in Melbourne! 💪 pic.twitter.com/bss5PanauW