World No. 7 Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva recently spoke about a disturbing message she received online after a loss when she was only 14 years old.
`I remember one comment clearly; I was 14 at the time. I had lost in the first round of a tournament despite having three match points. Because I didn`t have much experience back then, I went onto social media to read the messages people sent me. I remember one to this day, I remember how scared I was…` Andreeva recounted.
`A guy wrote that I wouldn`t play tennis and told me to watch my back because he would find me and cut my hands. I started crying hysterically, having a kind of panic attack… At that time, I was terrified to leave my room; I thought he would follow me.`
`Now, of course, I don`t read messages anymore. I`m smart enough not to use my phone for a couple of days after I`ve lost.`
Andreeva also shared a more positive anecdote, revealing how she was inspired by a performance from American rapper Snoop Dogg.
`A few years ago, I saw Snoop Dogg`s performance where he thanked himself. He said, `Last but not least, I want to thank me.` Then his music started playing. I thought when I win a tournament, it would be nice to say something like that. After winning in Dubai, I felt it was the perfect time. I slightly changed the words so it wouldn`t seem like I copied him completely. I decided, why not? And everyone liked it, they all started laughing. I wasn`t initially serious, but then I thought: `And why shouldn`t I thank myself?` After all, I work every day, I train, I get tired, I spend half the day on the tennis court. It feels good when I thank myself. Good job, Mirra, we did it,` Andreeva stated on the Tennis Insider Club podcast.
To recall, following her victory at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai (UAE), Andreeva delivered a memorable speech in which she thanked herself for her performance.
