Mirra Andreeva continues to impress at the 2024 Australian Open, which has ultimately led to comparisons with some of the all-time greats of women's tennis.
Andreeva raced through the opening two rounds of the Australian Open without dropping a set. The Russian star cruised past Bernarda Pera in the first round before thrashing world number six Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-2 in the second round - a result which took the teenager just 56 minutes to complete.
A tougher third-round encounter against Diane Perry saw Andreeva bounce back from match point down to win across three sets and reach the second week of the season's first Grand Slam.
Such impressive form has led pundits and spectators to compare the 16-year-old's game to that of five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis, who was renowned for her fierce volley, yet the Russian teenager said her game is different from the former Swiss player.
"I actually watched a lot of her matches. I heard that people compare me to her. I really like the way she plays. But I think we're a bit different in a way that she plays smart. She kind of reads the game. I feel like she's a bit more aggressive. She's not afraid to go to the net."
Comparisons with players who had such success in elite tennis will be another big boost for Andreeva's confidence as she heads into the fourth round of the Australian Open.
"Me, I prefer to stay on the baseline. If I have an opportunity, I go to the net of course. I feel like when she played, she always wanted to go in front. She always wanted to go to the net to finish the point. Me, I mean, I can finish the point on the baseline, I feel okay."
The sky is the limit for Andreeva, and if she can defeat Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday, the 16-year-old will surpass her best-ever Grand Slam performance after she reached round four at Wimbledon last season.
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