"I wish we could win the Slam together this year"

"After the doubles matches, in order for the interview to become mandatory, you need to make a request for both tennis players," the WTA press service instructed me. And I'm glad, because a pair interview is a special genre, one of the most beautiful parts of which is to watch how the participants communicate with each other, make each other laugh and tease each other, how they cling to the reactions of their partners. And when they are as young, direct and positive as Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schneider, you just can't do without fun!

Last year, this couple, assembled at the last moment and did not train together, reached the finals of the Olympic Games in Paris and only lost there in a three-set thriller. During a couple of weeks of that tournament, all our fans fell in love with the wonderful girls. In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, Mirra and Diana recalled the award ceremony of the 2024 Games, and also shared their hopes for the current season.

"It's amazing that Diana always plays without fear"

— It was the first time you were paired up at the Olympics in Paris, without even practicing before the tournament, and you immediately took silver. It was followed by the Brisbane title and the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Will you be playing together at all Grand Slam tournaments and thousandth tournaments now?

Schneider: — This year we have definitely agreed that we will play all the Grand Slam tournaments and the Masters together (Andreeva nods — Izvestia). And then we'll see. Let's sit down, talk and discuss.

— Can you be paired up at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles?

Schneider: — It's still a long way away! (Both laugh)

— In the eight months since Paris, have you turned into girlfriends? Is it possible to be friends while playing on tour, and are you already sharing something intimate?

Andreeva: — I would say that yes. We're both quite open, but of course we won't say anything intimate to the first people we meet. But I feel that Diana is already allowed. Yes, I already shared it! She told me a lot of things!

Schneider: I totally agree. It's always difficult at the very beginning, especially since we started so abruptly — from the Olympics, with this pressure. And then, when we started communicating more, we realized that we have a lot in common. The way we look at things, the way we joke, we have a similar sense of humor. So it's easy to communicate.

— What do you admire about each other, and what maybe annoys you a little?

Andreeva (Laughing): — What frank questions we have, haha! The amazing thing is that Diana always plays without fear. It doesn't matter what the score is, but I know that if I get pinched a little bit, my nerves will freak out, I just leave the ball and I'm sure that she will do something with it - and, most likely, she will score it. I'm learning this quality so that I can help with nervous counting, too, if she gets a little nervous. And what is annoying… I don't know. It's hard to say, haha. Need to think.

Schneider: — Let's think, and I'll tell you about you! I know that Myrrh will serve at the most crucial moment. And it will serve well! In general, when I watch her singles matches, I am always delighted with how she anticipates the opponent's game. He always knows where to run, what the opponent will do. Mirra can return any ball to the court, and I'm trying to learn that too.

With the first take: how Mirra Andreeva feels about her new status

The Russian became the sixth racket of the world at the age of 17

— So you've thought of something annoying?

Andreeva: — I didn't think of it! Nothing yet!

Schneider: — And I'm waiting for her dog! (Both laugh) We've been talking about this dog for so long, but it's still not there. It seems to me that not only I, but the whole of Russia is waiting!

Andreeva: — Everything is in the process!

Schneider: — And so there is nothing.

— Diana, did you watch the final of Mirra against Arina Sobolenko in Indian Wells? After how long did they congratulate her on her victory and did they expect this from her — two thousandth prizes won at the age of 17?

— I think everyone there was just shocked and delighted at the same time. Mirra played such a match that Arina just stood on the sidelines and didn't know what to do! I've already been here in Miami and started training. I watched it just as Mirra closed the second set, and then a little bit the third. And I was very happy because the tennis was super-level. I didn't congratulate her right away, because I imagined what was going on there: media, photos… That's why I left the person alone so that she could just get some rest.

— Diana, when will Mirra be the first racket of the world?

Andreeva interrupts: — At the same time as she!

Schneider: — Yes, we will try at the same time! (They laugh)

"In general, my plan to congratulate LeBron was a success."

— Diana, you told me in the fall that after the Olympics you were invited to a football match against Akron from your native Samara region. What other sports besides tennis are you both interested in? And what are the personalities in them?

Schneider: — I'm rooting for Akron right now because it's great! We have such a small city (Zhigulievsk, where Akron played home matches before joining the RPL — Izvestia), and from there there is a whole football club that joined the Premier League and plays well there, glory to him and honor!

I don't really follow game sports anymore. But I really like to watch figure skating. I watched the Olympics in Beijing, I was delighted with how our girls skated. The adrenaline is pumping, I'm worried! So tennis, Akron, figure skating.

Andreeva: — I agree about figure skating. I was also very worried when our Olympics were rolled back. My mom loves watching it too, so we worried about it together. Sometimes I also watch hockey because my dad loves it. To be honest, I don't know any commands. But when he turns on the TV, I ask: "Who are you for, white or black?" He answers: "For the blacks." "Then I'm for the blacks too!"

As for playing sports, I watch basketball and I like the Los Angeles Lakers. I've never been to an NBA game and I'd like to go at least once. I know that tennis players and tennis players go to basketball here. Maybe the players are given tickets. So if I have time, maybe I'll go on one of the days. But it's all very complicated!

Schneider: — If you're invited, take me too!

Andreeva: — Good! (They laugh)

— Mirra, I'm not surprised about the Lakers. LeBron James himself congratulated you on your victory in Indian Wells!

— Yes, actually! In fact, I specifically talked about him a lot everywhere, hoping that he would notice and congratulate me later, write something, haha! (Schneider bursts into laughter at this moment — Izvestia). I don't remember who sent me the picture that he posted in the story of congratulations. When I saw it, I sent it to everyone faster: did you see it, did you see it?! In general, my plan was a success!

— Are there any athletes with whom you would like to talk, have dinner, ask about everything?

Andreeva: — I would like to have dinner with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. I see Novak Djokovic here every day, he still plays. I know him more or less, I know what's going on. And I'd really, really like to ask Roger and Rafa about something. Federer has never been seen in person at all.

Schneider: — I just watched the match. There is a picture!

Andreeva: — And I didn't see anything at all (on the court — Izvestia). It would be really cool for me to go out with them to eat.

Schneider: — Me too. I would add Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi to the list of Myrrh. A married couple.

The time of the first: how far will Andreeva and Medvedev be able to walk in Indian Wells

In the second week of the tournament, our stars will face difficult opponents.

— Diana, if we go back to Akron, I can't help but ask: do you know who Artyom Dzyuba is?

Schneider: Of course! I sent him a congratulatory video with his record! Keep up to date!

"I watch Diana cry, and I think: the main thing is that I don't cry."

— When Diana burst into tears after the Olympic final, Mirra, you reassured her: "We still have to go to the award ceremony, we need to look good!" How do you manage to maintain such composure, both on and off the court? Do you have this built in from the beginning?

Andreeva: — Initially, nothing was laid! Thank God there were no cameras before and no one filmed anything, because it was just a horror of what was happening on the court, especially at important moments. And at the Olympics, I remember watching Diana cry and thinking, okay, the main thing is that I don't cry. Because if we both burst into tears, we wouldn't stop. They would have wept at the award ceremony. Therefore, with the last of my strength, I tried to keep myself together, to joke somehow, in order to cheer her up too. It seemed to work out. The pictures came out very good!

That's why I did my job. But I'll be honest. When we arrived at the room, apparently, all this accumulated fatigue took its toll — and I burst into tears already there. I sat in the dark and cried for ten minutes. But now the memories of the Olympics are the coolest. Some of the brightest!

— What would you like to wish for yourself and each other?

Schneider: — I would like us to win a Grand Slam together. This year. As a couple.

Andreeva: — Come on! And we also want to have long and injury—free careers.

Schneider: — I agree!