We clicked immediately: Martinez and Andreeva set sights on success

Back on the grounds at Roland-Garros, where the Spaniard was both a singles and doubles finalist (pictured below with Mary Pierce in 2000), Martinez is now coaching Mirra Andreeva.

The teenage sensation has ripped through the draw in Paris and has arrived at the quarter-finals stage.

"She's been doing great. She's been handling every situation the right way," Martinez said. "We put in a lot of hard work after Rome. We focused our work in a certain direction. She's trusted me, she's been executing it well.

"I'm very proud of her, especially how she managed the occasion on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, with the full crowd, all the people going for Varvara (Gracheva) playing for France. I think that was very mature."

Martinez remembers their exact start date: April 8th. Their trial in the south of France went well and now the 2024 campaign is their focus.

"It's very nice to work with her, she is open ears, she is willing to work, willing to do what it takes," Martinez said. "I definitely knew she was a young player to watch, she was beating very top players. 

"When we decided on the week's trial, I did my homework and immediately could see she has a lot of potential, everybody can see."

Meteoric rise

Andreeva soared into the spotlight by qualifying for Roland-Garros and Wimbledon last year, advancing to the third round in Paris and fourth round at SW19. The 17-year-old also booked a fourth-round ticket at the Australian Open in January. The world No.38 is a big stage competitor, with a trophy-laden future.

While Martinez knows that the Cannes-based teenager has box office potential, the 1994 Wimbledon champion wants Andreeva to sharpen her toolset. 

"She has a very complete game, but she also has a lot of areas she can improve. That's what I'm focusing on. I think she's doing an amazing job," Martinez said. 

"I want to see her go for her shots. We are already looking at the movement, working together with the fitness coach on things I see. She can do better at being closer to the line, cutting angles, being more aggressive. She's doing that already which is really nice." 

During her post-match interview in the last 16, Andreeva praised Martinez for her composure.

“We have to thank my coach for this. We’ve worked on it together," Andreeva said after toppling Gracheva 7-5, 6-2 on Monday. "I’m really happy you can see that I stay calm in the tough moments."

Feet on the ground

With such perspective and such endeavour, Martinez couldn't be more content with the 17-year-old's personality and drive. 

"I am very impressed by her maturity level. She's still 17, so she has those moments still when she is like a child," she said. "She plays games, jokes around and in the moments she needs to be serious (clicks fingers) she can switch to that. That's very important, I feel like she respects me and my work."

"In practice I am firm, but I also want her to acknowledge when she hits a really amazing shot or does something really well. It's about enjoyment, having fun too and when it doesn’t happen, it's ok, she doesn't need to be as hard on herself. 

"Off the court she's very fun, polite, very well educated. She'll see everyone and say good morning, thank you and all of that. I hope she never loses that and stays humble. That's a quality, as long as I'm with her, I will hope to keep."

Challenge ahead

Into the elite eight in Paris and Andreeva faces a formidable task in the shape of world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka. 

The double Australian Open champion has defeated Andreeva in the past two visits to Madrid, 6-3, 6-1 in 2023 and then 6-1, 6-4 two months ago in the Spanish capital.

"Mirra has to get out there, play an aggressive game as well and use all of her shots, not to be intimidated at all," Martinez said. "She has the game to do well against Sabalenka and it's going to be a whole new match."

Due to her seismic rise in the past two seasons, Andreeva is regularly regarded as a future Grand Slam champion. Martinez insists there are plenty of hurdles to clear first. 

"She has one very, very important match. If she wins then we'll just focus on the next one," Martinez said, urging caution over expectation.

"You have to take steps to reach the very top, then of course she can be a Grand Slam winner. But it won't happen without putting in the work. 

"Stay humble, feet on the ground, she needs to stay patient, to be able to do all the steps without any hurry.  If it comes sooner rather than later, then it's very welcome, a bonus."