Diana Shnaider seems to like the Mutua Madrid Open. On Saturday she took down Sevastova 6-0, 6-0 in just 44 minutes. The 21-year-old is taking giant strides on tour and is already ranked number 13 in the world.
Despite being among the best players on the planet, her season has not got off to a dream start. She only has nine wins to her name this year, and had not managed two on the trot since the Australian Open. Four months later, in the Caja Magica, she has finally managed to end that streak by beating Katie Volynets and the aforementioned Sevastova. She has only dropped three games in four sets so far in the Spanish capital.
So what is the reason for the sudden change in fortunes for the player born in 2004? It seems there are several, but one of the biggest is surely the arrival of Dinara Safina as her new coach. The former world number one joined Diana’s ranks just two weeks ago and the relationship already seems to be bearing fruit. In addition, Safina has her own connection with the Mutua Madrid Open. In 2009 she claimed the trophy in what was the first women’s competition at the event. That year she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the final, and dropped just one set on her road to the title. She knows the tournament and what it demands of players better than most.
Safina, one of the best clay players of her time, is now back on the red stuff working with Shnaider. The question is, how did Safina and Shnaider cross paths? Diana was coached by Igor Andreev until the end of last season. When they went their separate ways, her father, Maxim, took the reins on a temporary basis while they searched for the right person. Shnaider started to probe for a new coach early in the year and her mother, Yulia, got in touch with Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion, no less. Myskina, who is a good friend of Safina’s, suggested the former queen of Madrid. Yulia immediately messaged her.
“They asked me if I could join them in Dubai and I said it was a bit soon, I couldn’t change my plans”, Safina told wtatennis.com. “Then, for the tournaments in the US [Indian Wells and Miami], I don’t have a visa. So I said: “OK, I’m good for the clay swing. I’ll talk to my family. To me it was perfect timing”.
On Monday, Diana will be facing a huge challenge. Not only is she attempting to make it three wins in a row for the first time this season, she will do so against none other than Iga Swiatek, the world number two and defending champion in Madrid. The former world number one and champion of Madrid 16 years ago might just be the perfect appointment for encounters like this.
