Conchita Martinez said that she was ‘proud’ of Mirra Andreeva after the 19 year-old won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
It’s been a long road for the duo but Andreeva is finally a Grand Slam champion with help from Martinez.
The Spaniard had never won Roland Garros as a player but has now won it as a coach as their hard work was rewarded.
Despite not winning it as a player Martinez is delighted to win as a coach as her passion for tennis grows stronger by the day, “I’m super proud, to tell you the truth. I mean, I cannot hide it,” Martinez told journalists in her press conference.
“It’s been quite a long road, I think, with a lot of ups and downs. She’s 19. She’s learning. She’s getting more experience. But this Roland Garros, she was super focus, behaving super well on court, maintaining her composure. Yeah, I’m super proud of the work and how, yeah, she was open to listening and to doing everything that is needed to win a Grand Slam. So I couldn’t be prouder.
“Well, I mean, yeah, that was a very tough final to lose, but this feels amazing, to tell you the truth. Of course, I would have loved to win Roland Garros as a player, but when you quit tennis and you look back at everything that you have achieved, I mean, I’m also super happy about my career.
“Then, you know, to have a super career as a coach and, you know, now Mirra winning this Roland Garros was very, very special. Also, Garbine was there. You know, we hug. She was the first one that I won a Grand Slam with. So it was very emotional. I love this job. I love tennis. It’s a passion of mine.”
Although Martinez and Andreeva have had a successful partnership, there have been difficulties for Martinez.
The attitude of Andreeva can be difficult for Martinez to work with as she stated in her press conference, “Sometimes in practice she can be a little bit difficult. But you know, when she’s open to listen, she’s open to, like, you know, breathe and work with her emotions also in practice, because if you don’t do in practice, how is it going to work when you play a match?”
Despite Martinez saying this the Spaniard believes the sky is the limit for the 19 year-old and is excited for the future, “Her attitude is difficult. You tell her something, and maybe she’s not open to listening and stuff like that. Yeah, that is a little bit difficult, because I mean, you know, when she works hard and when she listens and she does everything, you know, she has no limits. So sky is the limit,” Martinez analyzed to journalists.
“I mean, for me it’s a work in process. I’ve been with her for a couple of years, a little bit more, two years and some months. I think I started in April 2024. You know, when you win your first Grand Slam, I’m happy that she’s, like, more confident. But like I said, there is a lot of things that she can still get better. She still has to develop.
“Those are good news, no? You know, we have to stay humble. For me one of the things is to stay humble, be open to work. Nothing is going to come easy, and she stays the way she’s been doing for…
“I knew things had to change for her to win big things. Yeah, sometimes I had doubts. Like, I mean, if you don’t change something, I mean, you make it extra difficult for yourself. You know, great kudos to her. Kudos to her for willing to change something, staying open, doing the hard work. You can see, once she does the hard work, I mean, her potential just comes out. She’s a natural. She’s a great player, so this is a way.
“Are we going to see her the whole time like this? I really wish, and I really hope, but I’m sure there’s going to be ups and downs. As long as she can continue to learn and to get better, we need to improve in many — I mean, she still have a big room for improvement in every department. So I’m super excited for the future.”
Of course, Andreeva had a question of her own to ask about their relationship which Martinez had a funny response to:
Andreeva: What is the best thing of working with Mirra Andreeva?
Martinez: The best thing of working with Mirra Andreeva is we get to play UNO, and I always winning. So that’s the best thing, when I win, you know, against her in UNO.
Andreeva: That’s it? Have fun.
Martinez: Have fun. I’m fired.
