What’s a little friendly banter with your coach, right? Mirra Andreeva and her coach, Conchita Martínez, would surely agree. The two have been working together since April 2024 and share a playful dynamic on and off the court. Andreeva even joked about Martínez’s Wimbledon grass advice being “bad” after her 2024 first-round exit, teasing the veteran for giving tips from “a long, long time ago.” Still, when it’s time to focus, Mirra delivers under the watch of the ex-pro. The banter, though, never really stops.

Currently, Andreeva is in Adelaide and off to a flying start. She won her opening match against Marie Bouzkova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. It’s her first time at the tournament, and she’s already in the quarterfinals. When asked why she’d never played here before, the Russian teenager didn’t hold back.

She said, “Well, honestly, it’s my coach making bad decisions. She didn’t even listen. It’s okay!” The interviewer probed, “Does she ever listen to you?”

And as cheeky as ever, Mirra Andreeva replied, “Not really. But it’s okay because this time I made the decision to come, and I think it was a pretty good one. So thanks to me!”

This isn’t the first time Mirra has taken a dig at her coach, and it probably won’t be the last. Last year, around the same time, Mirra made an honest confession at the 2025 Brisbane International about her relationship with the ex-pro and Wimbledon champion.

“I would say that I’m still a kid sometimes,” Mirra Andreeva said during an interview, “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 p*ss 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 a** sometimes. But she’s doing a good job so far. She’s okay.”

But when it comes to competing in Adelaide, she’s made a strong impression already. Right now, she’s fresh off her Brisbane International setback, where she lost to Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals. But against Bouzkova on Tuesday, she bounced back in style, showing her crisp movement and fearless shot-making.

The No. 3 seed is charging ahead to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament. Mirra Andreeva dropped just four games in her win, but it didn’t start all her way. The 45th-ranked Czech, Marie Bouzkova, actually struck first, jumping to a quick 3-1 lead.

The teenager kept her foot on the gas in the second set, racing ahead 2-0 before Bouzkova finally halted her seven-game streak. At the changeover, the Czech called for the doctor and took some medication, but the brief pause couldn’t stop the Russian’s rhythm. When play resumed, Andreeva broke twice more and closed out the next four games to seal a confident straight-sets win and book her spot in the quarters.

While she jokes about her coach’s decision, her game has improved significantly since Martínez joined her entourage! They won titles at the 2024 Iasi event, and last year, she followed it up with two WTA 1000 trophies in Dubai and Indian Wells. The two have been almost inseparable  — a partnership that feels more like family than business.

But the pressure is mounting. Not just in Australia, but throughout the coming months, Mirra has a heavy load of points to defend. The question is, can she handle the spotlight under the former Wimbledon champion’s guidance?

Mirra Andreeva’s perspective coming into 2026

With her rise to the World No. 8 position last year, the teen knows what’s coming. February and March will be packed with pressure, especially with so many ranking points to defend in Dubai and Indian Wells. Still, Andreeva isn’t stressing about numbers or scenarios. Her mantra for now is simple:

“I’m just going to take it day by day, and just practice and improve,” she said post-match at Adelaide. “Do whatever I can to be a better player and a better person. I like the work that we put in with Conchita — trying to maintain my level by being aggressive, going for my shots, not being afraid to miss.”

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During the offseason, one of the few chances to breathe and reset, Mirra Andreeva used her time wisely. She opened up to her psychologist about the intense pressure she faced last season and how to balance that weight with her hunger to improve. She also had honest conversations with her coach, Conchita Martinez.

“Being smart and making the right decisions. And tonight [against Bouzkova] I saw those bits of pieces that we were trying to work on, and that made me very happy. I’m so full of energy right now. This match gave me a lot of confidence.”

For now, Dubai and Indian Wells can wait. The Australian Open and Adelaide International are right in front of her, and the challenge there is huge. Can Mirra bring her fearless tennis to the big stage and go all the way? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.