Mirra Andreeva’s coach says ‘I’m fired’ as teen crashes press conference after title win | Tennis | Sport

Conchita Martinez joked that she had been “fired” shortly after Mirra Andreeva won her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open. Back in 2000, Martinez finished runner-up in Paris, losing to Mary Pierce. And 26 years later, Pierce was the one presenting the trophy to her protegee, after Andreeva beat qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2 in Saturday’s final.

Martinez has had a stellar career as both a player and a coach. She won Wimbledon in 1994 and reached No. 2 in the world. She has also guided Garbine Muguruza to the Wimbledon title in 2017. Now, she’s helped Andreeva lift the biggest trophy of her young career.

And the Spanish star has bragging rights when it comes to something else, too. Andreeva crashed her coach’s press conference after winning Roland Garros and asked what the best thing was about working together.

“The best thing of working with Mirra Andreeva is we get to play UNO, and I always winning. So that’s the best thing, when I win, you know, against her in UNO,” Martinez replied.

Andreeva wasn’t impressed. “That’s it? Have fun,” she laughed. And the 2000 runner-up joked that her job could now be at risk. “Have fun. I’m fired. Am I fired? Fired?” she asked, before taking the next question.

Martinez’s job will no doubt be safe after she helped Andreeva claim her first Grand Slam title, aged just 19. The Russian might be young – she’s the youngest player to win this title since Monica Seles in 1992 – but she first burst onto the scene just over three years ago.

Andreeva brought Martinez into her team in 2024, and she won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles last year in Dubai and Indian Wells. But this is their biggest achievement yet, and Martinez said: “I’m super proud, to tell you the truth. I mean, I cannot hide it.

“It’s been quite a long road, I think, with a lot of ups and downs. She’s 19. She’s learning. She’s getting more experience. But this Roland Garros, she was super focus, behaving super well on court, maintaining her composure.

“Yeah, I’m super proud of the work and how, yeah, she was open to listening and to doing everything that is needed to win a Grand Slam. So I couldn’t be prouder.”

Reflecting on her own defeat in the final here 26 years ago, the former world No. 2 added: “I mean, yeah, that was a very tough final to lose, but this feels amazing, to tell you the truth. Of course, I would have loved to win Roland Garros as a player, but when you quit tennis and you look back at everything that you have achieved, I mean, I’m also super happy about my career.

“Then, you know, to have a super career as a coach and, you know, now Mirra winning this Roland Garros was very, very special. Also, Garbine was there. You know, we hug. She was the first one that I won a Grand Slam with. So it was very emotional. I love this job. I love tennis. It’s a passion of mine. So, yeah, I couldn’t be happier.”

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