Tennis

Liudmila Samsonova, the enigmatic Russian-born Italian tennis star, has long puzzled observers with her inconsistent performances. Despite possessing exceptional ball-striking abilities and all-court prowess, she has struggled to maintain consistency, often falling short in the early rounds of major tournaments.However, as the 2024 US Open unfolds, Samsonova appears to be on the cusp of a breakthrough. She has reached the fourth round, where she will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, and her recent performances suggest that she has finally found the mental fortitude to match her technical brilliance.Samsonova attributes her newfound confidence to a shift in mindset. She has realized the importance of managing pressure, both external and internal, and has vowed to fight until the last point. This determination was evident in her hard-fought second-round victory over Marie Bouzkova, where she rallied from a set and 5-2 deficit."I don't know how I won that match," Samsonova said. "But I felt like I could do it. I felt like, 'til the end, I will try to do my best because I felt I had the chance to win even if the score was really down."Samsonova's mental growth was further tested in the third round against Ashlyn Kreuger. Despite the pro-American crowd, she shut out her opponent, allowing her just two games."I think playing against an American is crazy," she exclaimed. "It's better not to play one, but the energy is unbelievable, honestly."Samsonova's journey to the second week of the US Open has been marked by a sense of kismet. She was initially projected to face Serena Williams in her final tournament, but Williams' loss to Ajla Tomljanovic opened the door for Samsonova to make her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut against Swiatek."When I stepped on court here for the first time since Cincinnati, I said, 'Ah, I like these conditions,'" Samsonova said. "I like the ball with the courts, so I was feeling from the first practice that I could play my best game."With her newfound mental strength and affinity for the US Open conditions, Samsonova is poised to make a deep run in the tournament. She may not have the same level of experience as Swiatek, but she has the talent and determination to challenge the world's best.

Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old tennis prodigy, has returned to the Mutua Madrid Open, the site of her breakthrough performance last year. In an interview with Prakash Amritraj at the Tennis Channel Desk, Andreeva revealed that she has framed a comment from her childhood idol, Andy Murray, praising her mental strength.Andreeva's journey in Madrid last year was remarkable. As a wildcard ranked just inside the Top 200, she reached the fourth round, defeating Leylah Fernandez, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Magda Linette without losing a set. Her performance earned her the WTA's most impressive newcomer award in 2023.This year, Andreeva has continued to impress, overcoming similar challenges to those she faced last year. In her second-round match against Linda Noskova, she lost the first set but rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. She also came from behind to defeat American Taylor Townsend in her opening match.Andreeva attributes her success to her mental strength and her ability to think through difficult moments. "I'm trying to play using my brain," she said. "I'm not trying to hit every ball as hard as I can. Maybe that helps me sometimes to think through hard moments."Andreeva's maturity on the court is evident in her approach to the game. "I feel more mature even though there's not much of a difference in my age," she said. "Last year, I was hoping for some kind of miracle when I was playing against everybody, that on these pressure points they would give me something with their mistakes or something will happen for me to just win the match. Now I know and I'm sure that I will not be able to win a match without doing something myself."As Andreeva prepares to turn 17, she is excited about the future. "I'm just trying to always think in a positive way and that's it," she said. "I'm really looking forward to the next few years and seeing how far I can go."