Conchita Martinez Explains Key Factors Behind Mirra Andreeva’s First Grand Slam Title Win in Paris

Conchita Martinez has described Mirra Andreeva‘s Roland Garros triumph as the result of a long, uneven developmental process. Andreeva claimed her maiden Grand Slam in Paris on Saturday (June 6) after overcoming a qualifier, Maja Chwalinska, in the final. It was Andreeva’s first championship match in a major event.

Andreeva, who was yet to win a big tour-level event like she did last year when she claimed back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, arrived at Roland Garros without much expectation. Top players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff were making headlines and were huge favorites to win the championship.

But they all crashed out as the tournament went on, Sabalenka being the last among them to exit the event in the quarter-finals after losing to Diana Shnaider. Andreeva had dropped just one set en route to the final on Saturday (June 6). She showed a career-defining sustained composure and focus across the six matches at the French Open.

In the final, she delivered another display of maturity, defeating qualifier Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2, reinforcing her status as a top 10 performer in a Grand Slam event. However, Martinez has played a fundamental role in Andreeva’s development over the last two years and also in preparation for this specific kind of match.

The Spanish coach, who helped Garbine Muguruza win Roland Garros in 2017 after defeating Serena Williams, admitted that it has sometimes been difficult to work with Andreeva in training. Speaking to the media, she highlighted that the 19-year-old is sometimes stubborn, but she nurtures her in a way to get the best of her on the court and in tournaments:

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’s 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 Slam gives her confidence.

Martinez herself played a Roland Garros final during her career back in 2020, but she lost the title to home favorite Mary Pierce, and that was the last time Martinez reached a Grand Slam final as a player. As a coach, she has now been able to show that she can lead others to success, reinforcing her status as one of the best coaches in the WTA circuit.

Conchita Martinez believes Mirra Andreeva has a lot to learn following French Open victory

Mirra Andreeva’s 2026 season has had its ups and downs. After winning her first title at the Adelaide International, she failed to defend her titles at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells. Some former players even revealed that she had not progressed on the court since March 2025.

But since the start of the clay season, the Russian teenager has been a much better player on the court. She reached three finals, including the French Open championship match, where she defeated Maja Chwalinska in straight sets. During the aforementioned press conference, Conchita Martinez explained that Andreeva is just 19 and still has a lot to learn on tour:

I’m super proud, to tell you the truth. I cannot hide it. It’s been quite a long road, 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 focused, behaved very well on court, and maintained her composure. I’m super proud of the work and of how she was open to listening and doing everything that is needed to win a Grand Slam.

Besides the singles, Andreeva has also flourished in the doubles category. She and her partner, Diana Shnaider, reached the final of the Madrid Open and Italian Open, winning the latter after beating Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Cristina Bucșa in the final. The Russian star has one WTA 1000 doubles title this season.

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