Diana Shnaider is leaving no stone unturned at the US Open, as she gears up to take on Jessica Pegula next, in the fourth round. Because of her recent performances, the influence of her legendary coach Igor Andreev is becoming increasingly evident, particularly in helping her wean off negative thoughts on the court, as Shnaider himself revealed. The 20-year-old recently spoke candidly about the significant influence Andreev has had on her growth.

Shnaider emphasized that Andreev has helped her manage the mental side of the game, apart from the technical side. She also highlighted how Andreev has been actively helping her remain resilient and focused under pressure. “Igor was the right fit at the right time. We are working a lot on my negative thoughts on the court. He has much experience as a player, so there are a lot of moments where he can relate to how I’m feeling on the court. He has sound advice that helps me,” the Russian said in an interview with Tennis Majors.

Shnaider further stressed that tennis players are just human beings at the end of the day, and they don’t need to be harsh upon themselves for the mistakes that they might make on the court. “I am just being negative if I’m making errors. We are all people, we’re not robots, but sometimes for me, it’s hard to realize that it’s OK to make errors, that I should just keep going. Igor is teaching me that it’s the way to get better, and the importance of staying focused throughout the match and fighting for every point,” she added.

Andreev’s deep understanding of the sport, combined with his strategic insights, has been instrumental in Shnaider’s recent progress, helping her navigate the challenges of the professional circuit with growing confidence. While Shnaider’s performance has blossomed with Andreev as her coach, she was initially a bit skeptical about hiring him.

Diana Shnaider was skeptical about her partnership with Igor Andreev

Shnaider knew that, beyond talent and hard work, a supportive coach was crucial for her. But finding the right person to guide her wasn’t easy. However, as the grass season began, she finally found the perfect coach in Igor Andreev. Under his guidance, Shnaider’s career took a swift upward turn, resulting in her first silver medal at the Olympics within just one year of turning pro.

Reflecting on her initial hesitation before adding Igor Andreev to her team, Shnaider admitted, “At first, I thought it was the wrong time to start. Grass is very unpredictable, and I wondered how he could get me ready for that. But we fit each other on and off the court, and I hope we will stick together for a while. [His coaching style] is very simple — but at the same time, when someone can explain hard things in simple words, it’s really great.”

Despite Shnaider’s early skepticism, Andreev’s straightforward approach and ability to simplify complex concepts won her over, solidifying their partnership as player and coach.