Conchita Martinez, 52, is a multi-generational figure in women's professional tennis. Her successful playing career ended with retirement in 2006 and induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2020, but her second act as a coach has proven to be even more successful.
As a player, Martinez's career spanned 18 years. She won 33 singles titles and advanced to the semifinals of each Grand Slam. She was the 1998 Australian Open and 2000 French Open finalist before winning the 1994 Wimbledon Championships.
Martinez's coaching career is less than a decade in the making, but she has already worked with and helped three WTA players become champions, including Mirra Andreeva, the 2025 Dubai and Indian Wells champion.
Conchita Martinez's former players
True to her Spanish roots, Conchita Martinez began coaching Garbine Muguruza in 2017. Muguruza already won the 2016 Wimbledon title, but under Martinez's tutelage, she went back-to-back winning the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
Martinez worked with the Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova during the 2018 season. Pliskova won the Italian Open and was an Australian Open finalist in 2018.
Presenting @conchitamartinz with her 2021 Coach of the Year award 👏
— wta (@WTA) March 9, 2022
She is the first female coach to receive it! pic.twitter.com/ahPNfKaIWM
She returned to Garbine Muguruza's team in November 2019. Muguruza was the 2020 Australian Open finalist, won the 2021 Dubai title, and the 2021 WTA Finals, paving the way for Martinez to become the first female WTA Coach of the Year.
Mirra Andreeva
Martinez was not out of work long after Muguruza officially retired in 2024. She joined Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva's team shortly thereafter, and the results have come quickly and been magical. Under Martinez's supervision, the phenom Andreeva has matured and developed her tennis instincts. Many predict that it is only a matter of time before Andreeva wins her maiden Grand Slam. It could happen as early as this year.
Can we all agree that Conchita Martinez has been cooking?
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 16, 2025
Mirra Andreeva has won back to back WTA 1000 titles and it's only March.
A special coach for a very special player.
Frontrunner for coach of the year 🧡 pic.twitter.com/rd5QebWGye
Andreeva understands what a gem she has in Martinez. She is profoundly grateful for her. To honor her, Andreeva wants to accomplish things that Martinez did not do in her career. After defeating Iga Swiatek in the semifinals of Indian Wells, Andreeva wanted to win Indian Wells for Conchita because Martinez lost in the final.
In an era of professional tennis where female coaches are a rarity, it is wonderful to see Conchita Martinez earning success and accolades for her work with the next generation of tennis stars.