'We're Not Friends On Court': Andreeva Explains Relationship With Her Legendary Coach
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Mirra Andreeva has one of the legends of the game as her coach, and she recently opened up about their relationship.
Relationships between tennis players and their coaches are tricky. Unlike in other sports, tennis players hire and pay their own coaches and also have the ability to fire them at any time. Coaches are basically employees of tennis players.
At the same time, they are someone who should be respected by the players. It's a very tricky dynamic that can't be really seen in other sports.
17-year-old superstar Mirra Andreeva works with Conchita Martinez, whose full name is Inmaculada Concepcion Martinez Bernat. Martinez is a former WTA World No. 2 player and the 1994 Wimbledon champion.
Now, she's a successful coach. She led Andreeva to the 2025 Dubai Championships win. The teenager became the youngest-ever WTA 1000 champion, rewriting the history books in Dubai this year.
After her win in the United Arab Emirates, the Russian player spoke about her relationship with coach Martinez. The two are often seen having a lot of fun away from the tennis courts.
They often play cards together and enjoy different kinds of activities. Andreeva confirmed their friendly relationship away from the courts.
"Well, I like that we have, I would say, friendly to not hateful (smiling). We can be hard on each other. Of course, outside of the court, I feel like, yeah, we have a friendly relationship."
However, despite being only 17 years old, the Russian player realizes the dynamic of the coach-player relationship. She knows she has to respect Martinez as a coach, and that's something she tries to do by drawing a clear line on the practice court.
"What I like is that we both know how to separate that friendly relationship. When we're on the court, we're not friends to each other. I know that she's my coach, that I have to be respectful, that I have to listen to what she says because that's what helps me."
Andreeva revealed that, in the past, she was close to crossing that line, but she realized that, and that's why she's able to act accordingly and make sure both are productive as professionals but also friendly off the courts.
"If I'm going to start thinking that she's my friend, we're all friendly, she's not really my coach, I'm not going to take her serious, then I think this is the worst that can happen. A couple of times I had to remind myself to keep it down because I remember a few times it was... I was a bit on the limit."
"But yeah, I've learned the hard way that on the court we're not friends, she's my coach. She helps me to win. It's just going to stay like this."
