Alina Korneeva, a talented young tennis player, has enjoyed exceptional success in the junior circuit. Her remarkable achievements include a captivating Australian Open Girls final against Mirra Andreeva and winning the Roland Garros girls’ title. Korneeva has also etched her name in history by becoming the first player since Belinda Bencic and Ana Konjuh in 2013 to secure two junior Slams in the same year. Consequently, she will end the year as the junior No 1.
In an interview with the WTA, Korneeva disclosed that she accomplished these extraordinary feats without setting specific goals. She admitted, “Actually, I didn’t have these goals at all. I’m really happy that I didn’t plan this, I just did it.” Her success stemmed from her passion and dedication to the sport.
Having embraced tennis at an early age, Korneeva joined the prestigious Spartak sports club in Moscow at the age of six. Despite initial rejections from coaches, she persisted and eventually found a coach, Julia Bekeshchenko, who believed in her potential. It wasn’t until she was ten years old that she truly fell in love with tennis, as she began to comprehend the game and develop an appreciation for both watching and playing in tournaments.
Korneeva’s dedication to the game is apparent in her approach to tennis. She likened her affection for tennis to a deep relationship, stating, “Tennis is like a relationship between a woman and a man. When you are in love, you love all the good things and bad things. In tennis, the same.” She relishes the challenges, whether it involves enduring lengthy matches in hot weather, adhering to her daily training regimen, or experiencing the support of fans, and even the opposition when competing in another country.
In spite of her impressive accomplishments, Korneeva remains steadfast in her efforts to enhance her game. She continues to maintain a close working relationship with her childhood coach, Julia Bekeshchenko, and has also commenced working with Anabel Medina Garrigues at the Rafa Nadal Academy, with the objective of playing in a more aggressive and attacking manner.
Korneeva made her WTA debut in Hong Kong and has already attracted attention as an up-and-coming star to watch in the upcoming seasons.
It is truly inspiring to witness a young talent like Alina Korneeva achieve such remarkable success. Her extraordinary journey serves as a testament to the influence of passion, perseverance, and hard work in pursuing one’s aspirations. As she forges ahead on her journey in professional tennis, Korneeva is unquestionably a name to remember.