M. ANDREEVA/N. Noskova
6-3, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Your overall thoughts on the match today.
MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, it was a tough match because last year she beat me, so we played the match to go to the quarterfinals. It was a tough match mentally and physically for me.
I'm really happy with the outcome today.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How are you feeling about your game at the start of this new year? What was the off-season like for you?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say that I feel like I've improved. I feel like I have a lot of strength and a lot of power in my body. I'm just really happy with the way I'm playing right now. Really happy with the way I started the tournament.
Yeah, I guess we did good job in the off-season.
Q. You obviously had a great season last year. What did you most learn about yourself?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say that I felt like I was ready to play big matches. Maybe I would say in the beginning of last year I was not as ready mentally for those big matches or, I don't know, the tight moments in important matches.
I would say that closer to the end of the year I felt like I'm ready for it. Now I feel even more ready. I guess that's a good thing.
Q. In what way did you not feel ready and what's changed?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, first match that comes to my mind was Australian Open, fourth round. Well, I think that I've had a lot of chances and a lot of opportunities to win that match. I didn't have any match points or I was not close in the third set, but the second set was tight.
I just felt a lot of pressure. I felt like I was super, super nervous because I've had a lot of thoughts in my mind. I would say that would be number one example for me.
Also when I understood that I'm ready to play those matches was the semifinals at the Roland Garros. Also when I played Iga the Cincinnati Open. I felt like I've improved throughout the year.
Q. The last time people saw you was in the Ningbo final. You had a strong reaction after the loss. Your passion and the high standards you have, in my opinion, seems like it's driven you. What is it like finding a balance between that and trying to be composed?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: Well, that final was something special. But honestly I got emotional because, well, I led 3-0 in the third set, and I lost 6-4. It's never easy to lose the match when you're almost always the one who is up in the score.
Of course, I got emotional, as well, because for me it was the chance to win my second title. Of course, it's not really nice when you lose in the final. Yes, this was a bit heavy. Well, not a nice moment.
After with Dasha, we shared nice moments together. She tried to calm me down. I don't think she succeeded because after that I started crying even more.
It's a learning experience, as well. I just have to accept it. Now when I look at those videos when I'm crying, I just laugh at myself because I couldn't hold it inside.
Yes, it's again an experience that had to be there in my career.
Q. Two years ago you were playing juniors in the Australian Open final. How different do you feel from two years ago?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I've already said that, but I definitely feel more mature because if we compare my game to the final of Australian Open juniors and now, I would say that I'm more aggressive, I'm more positive, I'm calm, and I don't make as many stupid mistakes as I would.
Yeah, I guess I'm improving day by day for a little bit. I'm just happy that I can see the difference between those matches. Yes, I'm just happy with the way I play right now.
Q. You play a different style to other players. Where does that come from?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I don't know. I honestly never think about all this. I just go on the court and I play. It's always easier for me like that.
Even when Conchita, she explains me what to do, she gives me a plan for the match, after that I'm listening. Sometimes I remember things. Most of the time I just go on court and I just know that maybe, for example, her forehand is better than her backhand so maybe I should stick to her backhand more. After I kind of improvise what I do on court.
I guess that's the thing that helps me because I never think of what I have to do. I just go on court. I see how it is. I see what's going on. I just decide there on the court.
Q. You said sometimes you're not easy to work with. In what way?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say that I'm still a kid sometimes. I can get angry. If you said something that I didn't like, I'm like, Okay, well, I'm going to do something that she doesn't like as well. I try to piss her off.
She's like, Oh, my God, what are you doing?
We start laughing about it and we forget about all of that. I just can be a little pain in the ass sometimes. But she's doing good job so far. She's okay.
Q. Conchita had a lot of variety in her game. How has she helped your game in that sense?
MIRRA ANDREEVA: I would say first thing that she brought to my game was positivity. Well, I think I'm known, I'm the person who would think negative most of the time. Even last year in the beginning of the year. Now I'm noticing that it was not right, the way I was thinking, the way I was approaching the matches, what kind of thoughts I have during the match as well.
When we started working together, she definitely brought up some positive. Now when I miss, for example one year ago, Oh, my God, I cannot play tennis, why am I doing this? If I compare myself to this day, I would say, Well, it's okay. It was a good miss. We just keep working. For example this is the difference.
Of course, she brought more variety to my game. I feel like I'm kind of fearless on court. I'm not afraid to make mistakes in important moments or when, for example, I'm facing a break point or down in the score, I still try to play aggressive with the same mindset.
I would say these are the things that she brought to my game and that she helped me to improve.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports