Mirra Andreeva coach Conchita Martinez keeps teen star grounded

MIAMI, USA—Days after winning back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments and skyrocketing up the rankings, Mirra Andreeva is doing exactly what 17-year-olds do: posting up a storm on social media.

Amid the relentless pace of the professional tennis calendar, Andreeva flew from the California desert to South Florida for an array of TV interviews, photoshoots and media appearances—all a part of the job as a top IMG player at an event run by the same agency. She fielded social media shoutouts from the likes of LeBron James and Maria Sharapova, and on Instagram, she was seen hitting the practice courts in a video shared from the point of view of her stuffed animal keychain, set to the tune of No Doubt’s viral hit “I’m Just A Girl”.

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According to coach Conchita Martinez, that’s one of the qualities that stood out the most about Andreeva. More than just a teen phenom with a “complete” game, she’s also very much 'just a girl' from Krasnoyarsk, Russia who collects fan gifts in her suitcase and is still waiting for mom to buy her a puppy.

Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion and former world No. 2 from Spain, says it’s a delicate dance to keep on pushing her young charge to her highest potential, while at the same time keeping her shielded and grounded under the glare of tennis’ spotlight.

I’m glad that Andreeva has a good team around her at that age, at 17 years old. You know how overwhelming this all is—especially if you succeed. Garbiñe Muguruza

“It’s all about balance,” Martinez told TENNIS.com. “In the end, I push her to practice, push her to do the right things and take care of many things so she can be a better player. She’s very receptive, and a fast learner.

“Outside the tennis court, she’s a happy girl. She sings, and she jokes, and so for me that’s great. I also like to joke and have fun, so it’s all good. We can work hard, and also have fun.”

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Andreeva hired Martinez last year at the suggestion of her IMG agent, who also worked with former world No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza, a player coached by Martinez for three years.

Muguruza, who is currently in Miami with Tennis Channel, gushed about Andreeva and Martinez’s partnership as she reunited with her former coach at the Hard Rock Stadium.

“I’m so glad that Andreeva has Conchi on her side,” Muguruza told me. “She’s such a nice woman! She’s like a mom, you know, and she takes care of you. She’s really looking out for your best interest.

“I’m glad that Andreeva has a good team around her at that age, at 17 years old. You know how overwhelming this all is—especially if you succeed.”

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Since hiring Martinez, Andreeva’s ranking jumped from outside Top 50 to a new career high world No. 6, culminating with her aforementioned 1000-level victories in Dubai and Indian Wells.

Her lightning-fast rise has seen Andreeva’s name compared to Sharapova—another Siberian phenom and a multi-time Grand Slam winner who broke through as a teenager with her 2004 Wimbledon victory. The former world No. 1 herself has hailed Andreeva as “so poised” and praised her “strong attitude… (with) the game to back it up.”

Martinez sees a work in progress: Her goal is to keep Andreeva improving “physically, mentally, and tennis-wise.” Her top goals are to work on the 17-year-old’s footwork so she can move around the court more explosively, honing her forehand and getting her to move into the net more often.

The biggest goal, though, is for Andreeva to stay “humble” and grounded as they approach the one-year anniversary of their coaching partnership in South Florida.

“We need to be very humble and continue to work to try to get better every day—physically, mentally, tennis-wise, etcetera. And then all the results are going to come, but right now it’s about putting in the work,” Martinez said.

“I don’t want to say any numbers or milestones. I just want her to show up in practice, and then fight like hell once she’s playing matches.”

Andreeva, the No. 11 seed, will start her Miami campaign in the second round against Veronika Kudermetova on Friday.