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Conchita discovers Andreeva's key to success: "The sky is the limit"
Conchita Martínez analyzed Mirra Andreeva's first Grand Slam title and explained the enormous mental and tennis work behind the Russian's success.
Mirra Andreeva is now the Roland Garros champion. The Russian, at just 19 years old, claimed her first Grand Slam title and confirmed that she is one of the great stars of present and future women's tennis. Behind this success is a key figure: Conchita Martínez. The former Spanish tennis player has accompanied Andreeva in a growth process that has gone far beyond purely technical aspects.
The Aragonese, who previously guided Garbiñe Muguruza to the Roland Garros 2016 and Wimbledon 2017 titles, once again demonstrated her ability to manage the talent of a player destined to leave a mark on an era. After the final, Conchita spoke about the work done, the importance of the mental aspect, and the evolution of Andreeva, who, as she herself acknowledges, still has room for improvement.
Conchita Martínez explains Andreeva's evolution at Roland Garros 2026
"I am very proud, really, I cannot hide it. It has been a very long road, with many ups and downs. She is 19 years old, learning, and gaining experience. But at this Roland Garros, she was super focused, super active, and kept her composure. I am very proud of the work. She was open to listening and doing everything necessary to win a Grand Slam. I could not be prouder."
Her Roland Garros final lost as a player
"Yes, it was a very tough final to lose as a player, but this feels amazing. Of course, I would have liked to win Roland Garros as a tennis player, but looking back and seeing all that I have achieved, I am also very happy with my career. Having such a beautiful career as a coach and seeing Mirra win here is very special. Garbiñe was there, we hugged, she was the first with whom I won a Grand Slam. It is very exciting. I love this job, I love tennis, it is my passion."
Andreeva's mental shift
"I knew that some things had to change for her to win major titles. Yes, at times there were doubts because if you do not change some things, you make it harder for yourself. We must thank her for being open to change, to work hard. When she does that work, all her potential emerges naturally. She is a great player. That is the way. I am sure there will be ups and downs. The important thing is for her to keep learning and improving because she still has room in all aspects. I am very excited about the future."
The pressure of a Grand Slam
"It has been a process of work throughout the tournament. There were many ups and downs, but she continued to do her job in the matches and was able to keep her composure. At the beginning, there is always more nervousness, and emotions arise, but I am very happy that she could keep them under control. She worked, worked, and worked. She has tools to manage these situations and was able to use them. It is not easy to endure fourteen days in a Grand Slam."
Conchita Martínez warns of Andreeva's "limitless potential"
"Sometimes it is not easy to work with her, I am not going to lie. She is a very nice girl off the court, but in training, she can sometimes be difficult. There are days when she is not open to listening. That is complicated because when she works hard, listens, and does everything she has to do, she has no limits. The sky is the limit. For me, everything is a work process. I have been with her for just over two years. I am happy that winning this Grand Slam gives her confidence, but she still has many things to improve. We have to maintain humility and keep working. Nothing will be easy."
Reaching number 1
"Every day is an opportunity to improve. When you work well and do your job, the results come, and the ranking follows. We are not obsessed with it. If it happens, fantastic, but the important thing is to keep improving because she is an incredible player and can still grow much more."
The importance of psychological work
"Of course, we need help. We have an amazing team around her. Not only psychologists, but also the physical trainer. Everyone is doing a great job. For me, it was important to reinforce some aspects that I saw needed improvement, and after Wimbledon 2024, we decided to bring in a specialized person. I think it was a very important decision for us."
The training barrier
"She is very perfectionist and sometimes does not allow herself to fail in training. That was a very difficult barrier that we had to overcome. I would say: 'You failed, but you hit the ball well.' She would reply: 'Yes, but it went out.' And I would tell her that was how she could continue to grow and learn. When she understands these things and is open to hearing them, she improves a lot. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies."
Feet on the ground after conquering Paris
"For me, the important thing is to maintain the same discourse: feet on the ground, humility, and keep working. She is 19 years old and has achieved many things, but she must keep going. If she has big dreams, she has to keep improving every day. No one gives you anything, everyone wants to beat you, and you have to give your best in every training session."
A mental click for the future
"I believe she has realized that when she does what she has to do every day, things work out. This allows her to focus on playing tennis and not on other concerns. It will be very important for her to discover that this is the way. She is a very intelligent girl, and she will understand it. There will be tough moments because tennis is a very long and demanding sport, but I have always believed in consistency, and I think Mirra is finding it."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Conchita descubre la clave del éxito de Andreeva: “El cielo es el límite”