Ekaterina Alexandrova spoke about the significant role Igor Andreev has played in her recent success. The world No. 20 has had a strong season so far, winning the tournament in Linz and reaching the semifinals in Doha, Charleston, and Stuttgart.
– You`ve started this year exceptionally well, currently ranking 11th in points earned since the start of the season. To what extent is this related to Igor Andreev coaching you for several months now?
– There is a connection, of course. Igor has added a lot to my game. This applies to my serve, return, and baseline play. Before, I played pretty much the same way on hard courts, grass, and clay – trying to hit as hard as possible from any position, attempting to win the point with one shot. Now, I adapt to each surface and consider the specific situation on the court. Igor makes me analyze the game more, make rational decisions, and explains that every shot should have some purpose. Although, honestly, sometimes I still want to play simpler, meaning just hitting harder.
– Until recently, you trained and traveled to tournaments with your father, who is largely credited with your tennis development. Was it difficult to adjust?
– The idea of inviting Igor belonged to my father. It was tough at first. Things didn`t go smoothly for me at the start of the season. But after the Australian Open, I managed to find the right working rhythm, and I`ve maintained it since then.
– Under Andreev`s guidance, the Russian team won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2021, and then he worked with Anastasia Potapova and Diana Shnaider, achieving results in both cases. What are his strengths as a coach?
– Igor conveys the necessary information very calmly. Even when it seems like things aren`t going as they should, no anxiety is transmitted from him. Furthermore, he`s very good at seeing exactly what I lack. He doesn`t have universal recipes; he doesn`t offer one tactic to everyone but uses an individual approach. In his time, he played well himself, especially on clay, and knows subtleties that I personally hadn`t thought about.
Marcus Prine