Alina Korneeva is on her way back. The 18-year-old Russian prodigy has had her fair share of setbacks in the last couple of years, but recent results suggest she’s getting back to where she should be – in the top echelon of the sport.
Junior Success
Korneeva’s ascent began early and impressively. In May 2023, still shy of her 16th birthday, she reached No. 1 in the ITF Junior world rankings. That same year, she added major accolades to her resume, winning the girls singles titles at the Australian Open and French Open.
Her move to the professional level has been marked by steady, but interrupted progress on the ITF Tour, where she has now claimed six titles. Without injury, her ranking would likely sit comfortably inside the top 100, adding to the growing number of teenagers making waves on the WTA Tour.
Navigating the Challenges of Injury
The past two years have presented formidable obstacles. Korneeva entered 2025 at No. 177 but saw her ranking drop to No. 287 by June, sidelined by a wrist injury that kept her out from the Australian Open until the first week of that month. The previous year, 2024, brought a similar blow: a six-month absence mid-season.
These periods disrupted any rhythm she could build, leading to a lack of consistency on the court. Upon her return in June 2025, she faced an initial struggle, losing her first four matches. For a young player with so much talent, it could’ve been easy to lose confidence. But Korneeva fought through.
A Return to Form
Momentum has since shifted decisively. Over her last six events, Korneeva has recorded 21 wins against just four losses, culminating in her current 10-match winning streak. The streak includes back-to-back W50 titles in Portugal, victories that have lifted her ranking 131 places in a matter of months.
This resurgence is a wonderful sign for the young Russian’s future. To be able to turn her season around from what could’ve been a write off, into genuine momentum leading into 2026, shows great maturity.
Reflections on the Road Back
Prior to this hot streak, Korneeva shared candid insights with Polish tennis journalist Szymon Przybysz on the emotional weight of her time away from the game.
“My entire team helped me through it,” she recounted. “I didn’t play for over half a year in 2024. This season also started in Melbourne, and I only returned in June. I cut myself off. I deleted tennis-related apps, stopped following other players’ results. I didn’t want to watch any matches. When I was struggling with issues and saw that others could play while I was stuck in my room, sometimes practicing for just one hour a day—it was crushing. There were some really tough moments. There were periods when I felt intense anger every day.”
Prioritizing Health and Growth
Looking forward, Korneeva’s priorities are clear and pragmatic. “I want to be healthy,” she emphasized. “It might sound funny to say at 18 that I’m already experienced, but the recent events have definitely made me realize even more the value of health. I’ve come to understand that it’s the most important thing, and tennis comes after that.”
Perhaps some of this perspective has stemmed from training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, where she has worked for several years. There, alongside emerging talents like Alex Eala and Ivan Ivanov, she clearly benefits from high performance coaching, advanced facilities, and the mutual drive of peers.
With 2 months left until the end of the 2025 season, if Korneeva can stay fit, getting back to the top 100 has to be a realistic possibility. But if it doesn’t happen this year, it really is just a matter of time. For someone with such talent, don’t be surprised if she’s the breakout performer of the 2026 season. Perhaps we’ll get a reprise of that famous Junior Australian final against Mirra Andreeva in the coming years…The tennis world sure hopes so.
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