Mirra Andreeva’s rapid rise to the bigger stages of the game has now started to turn heads in the tennis world. Recently, she stunned the number 2, Aryna Sabalenka by defeating her in the QF of the French Open with a 7-6(5),6-4.6-4 scoreline. In contrast, shortly after her emphatic victory, Andreeva revealed, “Me and my coach, we had a plan today, but again, I didn’t remember anything.” However, her coach Conchita Martínez’s efforts behind these incredible performances didn’t go unnoticed by the tennis world. Recently, Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs heaped praise on Mirra Andreeva’s legendary coach. Here’s what she said at the ‘Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.’
Conchita Martinez, the former world number 2, won 33 singles titles in her career including a Grand Slam triumph in 1994 Wimbledon. She was in fact into the International Hall of Fame in 2020 and has also coached the likes of Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskov after her retirement. The 52-year-old tennis coach started working with the 17-year-old Russian in April this year. Their partnership started from the Rouen Open where she reached QF and looking at Andreeva’s incredible run at the 2024 French Open, fans can surely say this partnership has been a super hit so far.
Even Rennae Stubbs has similar thoughts on this! She said, “I think it helps to have someone like Conchita Martinez, who has been there herself many times who’s now coaching her has been coaching her for the last couple of months. We don’t give enough credit to you know what Conchita has been able to do with her to calm her down to teach her the ropes a little bit. “
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After her third-round match against Peyton Stearns, Mirra Andreeva revealed how Martinez helps her with the mental aspect of the game. She highlighted her role to release some tension during nervy moments of a match. Even against Sabalenka, Andreeva did quite well to calm her nerves.
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Not only Serena Williams’ former coach but also two other tennis legends spoke about the contribution of Conchita Martinez in Mirra Andreeva’s stellar rise. German tennis legend, Boris Becker hailed Martines as “One of the best coaches in tennis” while tennis journalist Jose Morgado tweeted, “Conchita Martinez is a great coach“. But what does the “great coach” think about this teenage superstar in the tennis world?
“She’s been doing great” – Mirra Andreeva’s legendary coach heaps praise on her performance in Paris
Mirra Andreeva recently became the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam SF since the 16-year-old Martina Hingis in 1997. Andreeva also became the youngest player to defeat a Top 2 player at a major tournament since Jelena Dokic in 1999. But what were Conchita Martinez’s thoughts after seeing Andreeva for the first time? During an interview with Roland Garros, she said, “We clicked immediately. It was just like we knew each other for years. But actually, we’d never met!”
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Talking about her progress in this tournament, Martinez said, “She’s been doing great. She’s been handling every situation the right way.” She said she’s very proud of the way Mirra Andreeva has performed at the French Open this year. “It’s very nice to work with her, she is open ears, she is willing to work, willing to do what it takes. I definitely knew she was a young player to watch, she was beating very top players,” said the 2000 French Open finalist. The Spaniard strongly believes Mirra Andreeva has enormous potential to become one of the best in the business!
Share your thoughts on the rapid rise of Mirra Andreeva.