Best known for her signature bandana style (she once mentioned having a collection of different colors), Shnaider is gearing up to make her mark on the Grand Slam stage. Although she has yet to advance past the third round in a major tournament, she is set to face Clara Tauson in the second round in New York. In a recent interview with Tennis Majors, Shnaider shared her goal of breaking into the top 20 rankings by the end of the year and expressed her dedication to working hard to achieve it sooner than expected.
Shnaider also talked about her collaboration with her coach Igor Andreev, a former world No. 18 player, highlighting his support in helping her navigate negative thoughts on the court and improve her mental game. She noted that they have been focusing on refining her serve and shot selection, making subtle adjustments that can have a significant impact at the elite level. Reflecting on the exhilaration of winning a tough match, Shnaider described it as a mix of joy and relief, akin to a euphoric high.
Away from the court, Shnaider enjoys listening to a variety of music genres and values her alone time as a way to recharge and unwind. As a left-handed player, she admires the talents of Petra Kvitova and recalls watching matches of top male players like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic while growing up. Looking ahead, Shnaider’s long-term goals revolve around maintaining her health, staying competitive, and sustaining a positive mindset towards tennis.
Despite her success on different surfaces this year, Shnaider remains focused on constantly improving her game on all terrains and aspires to be the best version of herself. She humorously admits to occasionally dreaming about tennis during downtime, reminding herself to take breaks even in her subconscious thoughts.
