Conchita Mart\u00ednez was in the middle of her account of her charge\u2019s run to a first grand-slam title when she was rudely interrupted by a late arrival. Pursued by the rest of her team, tournament officials and a gloved staff member carrying the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, Mirra Andreeva entered the main interview room with the sole objective of causing mischief.<\/p>\n
She interjected with a question. \u201cWhat is the best thing about working with Mirra Andreeva?\u201d the new French Open champion<\/a> asked. When Mart\u00ednez responded by explaining that she most values playing Uno against Andreeva and always winning, the 19-year-old raised her eyebrows and moved towards the exit. \u201cThat\u2019s it? Have fun,\u201d she said, smiling. As Andreeva left the room, Mart\u00ednez wondered aloud if she had just been fired.<\/p>\n In many ways that playful interaction between player and coach revealed more than their interview answers ever could. From the start of their partnership in 2024, the rapport with Mart\u00ednez has been one of the focal points of Andreeva\u2019s rise. They have clearly been very comfortable around each other from the beginning, each rarely missing an opportunity to banter with the other in public.<\/p>\n After lifting the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen for the first time, Mirra Andreeva\u2019s next port of call was Luna, her coach Conchita Mart\u00ednez\u2019s dog. Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Such a lighthearted atmosphere seems to be important to Andreeva. Although her determination is what has driven her to such great success at such a young age, it has also been one of her biggest vulnerabilities. Her emotions have frequently got the better of her during her career and she has sometimes struggled to maintain composure under pressure.<\/p>\n Before Andreeva entered the room Mart\u00ednez explained that, despite their great relationship, they have had plenty of challenging days on the practice court. \u201cHer attitude is difficult,\u201d said the Spaniard. \u201cYou tell her something and maybe she\u2019s not open to listening and stuff like that. That is a little bit difficult, because when she works hard and when she listens and she does everything, she has no limits.\u201d<\/p>\n Mart\u00ednez is incredibly qualified to nurture the career of one of the most talented teenagers to emerge in recent decades. By total coincidence, after beating Maja Chwalinska in straight sets, Andreeva was handed her French Open<\/a> trophy on Court Philippe-Chatrier by Mary Pierce, who Mart\u00ednez lost to in the final at Roland Garros in 2000. \u201cShe always knows what to say at the right time,\u201d Andreeva said. \u201cShe knows what I\u2019m going through. She can also feel when I\u2019m nervous, even when I don\u2019t know that I\u2019m nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n Amid all the chaos and drama in both draws, this year\u2019s French Open has strongly underlined the importance of female coaches. There are still too few on the tour, especially given their ability to find compatibility and understanding with their players, while travelling with them around the world and spending hours with them every day, in ways that male coaches cannot.<\/p>\n