Mirra Andreeva's star continues to rise in Rome
Under perfect weather conditions in Rome, world No 7 sensation Mirra Andreeva delivered a masterclass in clay court tennis.
She demonstrated why clay is her favourite surface, and revealed the single most important thing that has been transformative for her game.
On a warm breezy afternoon at the Foro Italico in Rome, the 18-year-old breezed past qualifier and world No 97 Emiliana Arango from Colombia, to secure a straight sets (6-2, 6-4) win in the second round of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia.
The result was never in any doubt.
Despite a slow start for the Russian star in the first set, she soon turned the set around by converting key break points, eventually dominating and winning 6-2.
Arango fought back in the second set, showing some perseverance, but in the end, she couldn't quite pull off the key points, after which Andreeva took control.
After the match, Amisha Savani of The South African asked Mirra Andreeva what was the most transformative thing in her game that coach Conchita Martinez had taught her.
'I would say that before I was like more of a defensive player, and I would just, you know, wait until the last moment for the right ball, to step in and attack and I think that now she's trying to teach me to, you know, as soon as I have a little opportunity to, you know, to create something and to start building the point by myself, she's trying to teach me to do it, so that's what we're working on, and I'm trying to, you know be more aggressive and to attack and build the point myself'.
Martinez's influence is notable, as shown in Andreeva's steadily ascending ranking and her year to date.
This time last year, she was ranked No 40.
This year, Andreeva won her maiden two back-to-back WTA 1000 titles.
She defeated three Grand Slam champions en route to clinching her first in Dubai (Vondrousova, Swiatek and Rybakina), and in her second in Miami, she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
More recently, she reached the quarter-final stage in Madrid before losing to Coco Gauff.
At the tender age of 18, Andreeva is already accustomed to facing the biggest players on tour.
The coming weeks could be very promising for the teen star's continued rise on her favourite surface.
Andreeva will face world No 30 Linda Noskova in the third round.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia at the Foro Italico, Rome
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