For Diana Shnaider, who won her first WTA title at the WTA 250 Thailand Open at the end of January/beginning of February this year, this is not the first visit to the Academy.


In January 2018, Diana Shnaider won the Tennis Europe Cat. 1 Christmas Cup U14 girls' singles tournament held at our Academy.



This visit to our Academy is part of her preparation for the clay season in Europe. Diana arrived at the Academy from the USA, where she played at the WTA 1000 Miami Open 2024 presented by Itaú. At the start of the tournament, Diana defeated former WTA ranking leader and legendary Venus Williams in two sets 6/3, 6/3, but in the 2nd round, she lost to 17th seed Madison Keys 2/6, 4/6.

As a result of her performance in the updated women's rankings, published on Monday, April 1st, Diana moved up four positions to 58th in the world.

Alexander Ostrovsky Academy: You came to us from the tournament in Miami. And right away the first question you've probably been asked all this week is: what was it like to play against tennis legend and former world number one Venus Williams and win?


Diana Shnaider: It was actually very exciting. You realize that Venus has incredible experience with all players of all ages with any type of technique, any type of game. And, of course, I never thought I'd catch this time and have time to play with Williams. I was very nervous and at the same time, I wanted to win very badly. There were a lot of emotions and thoughts, "What will she think?" How will she like my game?".

Serena Williams was there watching the match. I was thinking that today wasn't my best day, that I wasn't playing my best tennis. I'm glad that in the end I managed to cope with my emotions and didn't let Venus take the match. I managed to keep it to two sets, in the second set I started to play more actively and I'm happy that I didn't bring it to a third set.

AOA: You have already met many outstanding tennis players, such as Vera Zvonareva, and with Ons Jabeur you played your first final on the WTA Tour (at the end of September 2023 at the WTA 250 Ningbo Open, in China, where Diana lost 2/6, 1/6 - ed. note). Your great performance in Thailand, where you had a series of wins over top tennis players was impressive. And you won your first title! What feelings and thoughts do you have when you play at the level and even better than such big names?

D.S.: I think the understanding comes with time. I'm still going through this period. I am starting to realize that I am playing with them at the same level, that one day she may win and the next day I may win. Some will play better that day, some will play worse. But last year, when I combined college and professional tournaments, it was really hard. I would go out on the court and look at the players, and the spectators and think "What am I even doing here?". There were vague feelings that I wasn't ready yet, that I shouldn't be out there. First, you look at these players as gods, and then you train and play with them. 

АOA: Who would you like to play singles and doubles with?

D.S.: I would like to play singles against Iga Swiatek (Poland). After all, she is the world No.1. We haven't met anywhere yet. I would like to play doubles with Anastasia Potapova. I hope we can do it when I get higher. She's even offered me to play in some tournaments. I would also like to play with Veronika Kudermetova. I like to play doubles. There is a tennis player, Hsieh Su-Wei, who plays for Taiwan. She is 38 years old and she is an incredible doubles player.

АOA: You're picking from the top doubles players, so you need to step up your game to them?

D.S.: I think I am a good doubles player. It's just very difficult for me to get to the big tournaments now because I need a high ranking. I have a situation: either to get into the main draw due to the high ranking of my doubles partner, or not to get in at all.

АOA: Well, it can be a win-win situation. You are favoured by the ranking of another player, but you are a "dark horse" who also plays well and at a high level and can take your opponents by surprise, they do not know what to expect from you yet.

D.S.: Yes.

АOA: What achievement are you most proud of at the moment? It doesn't have to be a match or a title.

D.S.: Probably the fact that I was able to succeed after all. I've had a long career path and met a lot of good and bad people. There have been different opinions. What I'm most satisfied with is that I didn't give up and that I managed to cope with college and combine my studies and training. I kept going forward to my goal, believing that everything would work out. I was lucky that my parents made a lot of effort. My dad still goes to tournaments with me. He always believed in me as soon as I started playing tennis and always said: "Everything will work out, you will make it, you can do it".


АOA: You have been doing physical training with Rudolf Matevosyan for a long time. What is his role in your sporting success and how do you organize your training process?

D.S.: I have known Rudolf Razmikovich for a long time, probably since I was 11 years old. He remembers me as a little girl. It's difficult because you can't fully work at tournaments as you play matches. It's also not possible to constantly come back to Moscow, unfortunately. Because it's time-consuming and expensive. I try to come back whenever I have time and opportunity, to see my family and to work on some technical and physical aspects at least. Everything is important. You need to work non-stop.

АOA: Now he has set you serious tasks!

D.S.: Yes. Because there is a short period of time to prepare for almost all tournaments. Everyone is on equal footing.

АOA: If your racquet could talk, what stories would it tell about your training process?

D.S.: My racquet would tell me that when you are angry, don’t hit me, and you don't have to sweep the court with me. There are times when it's just too much to handle.

АOA: And it's always the closest one who gets hit. The racquet!

D.S.: Yes! I hope my racquet is satisfied with the way it plays, hits and who it wins.

АOA: What song or music track would you choose as the soundtrack to your tennis career?

D.S.: When I get on the court or just about my career?

АOA: Imagine a film about Diana Shnaider and there's a song playing on the background. What kind of music would it be?

D.S.: Oh, I know!!! I'm sure everyone has thought about that at some point. In fact, I'm such a music lover. The Score - "Who I Am," it is an energising and uplifting song!


АOA: I noticed that you are always smiling during training.

D.S.: Yes! Of course, sometimes it happens that I'm also angry with myself, the coach, and the ball. Everybody does. There's a lot of negativity and sadness in our world right now... what would even happen if you go into that...

АOA: Smiling with 10kg in hand, on the hardest exercises!

What upcoming tennis tournaments are on your calendar?

D.S.: Stuttgart, then Madrid and Rome.

OAO: If you could spend one day as a coach for beginners, what would you primarily teach them?

D.S.: To the little ones I would say: Listen to their parents. I also have a brother (Lev Shnaider, - ed.), who is 12 years old.

АOA: He participates actively in our tournaments (URTL Minitennis 10s).

D.S.: I have attended tournaments with my brother and I see that the kids are actively supporting themselves. So my advice would be to follow tennis ethics. And definitely believe in yourself and work hard. I know when we are 10-12 years old, we don't realize it at all. We think everything is fine, that everything is going our way. But in fact, time passes very quickly. The sooner you realize that you need to put extra effort into each training session than the other kids, then you will be on the right track!

АOA: Diana, thank you for your time. Wishing you productive training sessions at the Academy. You are always welcome to visit us.