Korneeva triumphs, but Andreeva shows signs of a bright future to come

The best contest of the fortnight at any level in Melbourne? Undoubtedly.

And have there been two better, more competitive players? If you factor in age, then arguably not. Probably not in fact. Wow.

Alina Korneeva is the 2023 Australian Open Junior girls champion but her 6-7 6-4 7-5 win over Mirra Andreeva is almost incidental to the action and sheer quality displayed by the two 15-year-old best friends.

Any tennis player - aspiring or existing- in need of inspiration should grab a video package now and not just the highlights. On Rod Laver Arena before a crowd that grew and grew and never left, this was three hours and 18 minutes of the highest quality.

Remarkably there was rarely a mistake or even remotely tentative play all afternoon. When, at 5-5 and after three hours, Korneeva returned a ball ever so slowly that it dribbled along the tape before plopping down on Andreeva’s side of the net, it was a sign the end was finally nigh. Korneeva broke shortly after and then held serve to win.

She had been hammered by a stomach and calf injury all match and that caused her some discomfort, she later said. Indeed she thought about calling it a day early in the second set.

“I couldn't play my game and show my best but it was a mentally good match," she said. "I couldn't run a lot, but yes, mentally it was good. I can't walk normal because I have pain in my leg, in my stomach, everywhere. Maybe (I’ll) go to bed.

A long hug at the net post match was heartfelt and words of consolation flowed for a devastated Andreeva.

“She's a very good player, and I hope, I know, that we will have a lot of good matches in the future,” said Korneeva.

“I know that sometimes she will win. It's normal, it's life. I said to her that, 'don't cry, Mirra, because it was very good match, very tough battle, a lot of good points'. She showed her best. I showed my best that I could.

“I think we can say that we are the best friends off the court. On the court, of course I can't give to her the points, we are the opponents on the court.

“I love her so much. She's my girl, my person that I can say everything to her. I hope we will have a good relationship together.”

Andreeva afterwards was distraught, shattered, but put things in perspective.

“When I’m playing my professional career I don’t think I’ll remember this loss,” she said.

But right now it hurts, deeply. Make no mistake, Korneeva won but there were two champions on court in this match.