Mirra Andreeva’s Indian Wells Triumph and Aryna Sabalenka’s Praise for Her Coaching Choice
Mirra Andreeva’s remarkable rise in the tennis world continued as she stunned top seed Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim the 2025 BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells on March 16. This victory marked her second consecutive WTA 1000 title, following her success at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.
The 17-year-old Russian showcased extraordinary resilience and skill throughout the tournament, defeating notable players such as Varvara Gracheva, Clara Tauson, Elina Svitolina, and former Indian Wells champions Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek before her final clash with Sabalenka. Her back-to-back wins over Rybakina and Swiatek in both Dubai and Indian Wells highlighted her growing dominance on the tour.
Following her victory, Andreeva received widespread recognition for her exceptional talent and the guidance of her coach, Conchita Martinez. During the post-match ceremony, Aryna Sabalenka congratulated Andreeva and specifically praised her decision to work with Martinez. In her press conference, Sabalenka elaborated on the importance of having the right people in a player’s corner.
“Of course, 100% (having the right team is a big factor),” Sabalenka emphasized.
Reflecting on her own career, Sabalenka admitted that she had been surrounded by the “wrong people” when she was Andreeva’s age. She credited her current team for helping her build confidence and maintain a healthier atmosphere.
“Talking about me at that age, I was surrounded by so many wrong people,” Sabalenka revealed. “Finally, when I was able to get rid of those people and I surrounded myself with the right people—you kind of have more confidence, and everything is more calm. The atmosphere in the team is very healthy.”
Sabalenka also pointed out that by working with Conchita Martinez, Andreeva had avoided the issues that come with coaches who adopt “abusive” training methods—something that has been a concern in professional tennis.
“So, the team is very important. I can see she has her family, who I’m sure is helping her with a lot of decisions. She has Conchita, who is a really experienced person and a very nice person, and she doesn’t have the abusive things,” she added.
Andreeva’s Rapid Ascent Under Conchita Martinez
Conchita Martinez, a former Wimbledon champion in 1994, is a highly respected coach known for mentoring elite players such as Garbiñe Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova. Andreeva began working with Martinez in mid-2024, and their partnership quickly yielded results.
Shortly after teaming up, Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2024 French Open, defeating Sabalenka in the process. She later won her maiden tour-level title at the WTA 250 Iasi Open and made another final at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open, where she finished as runner-up to Daria Kasatkina.
Her victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships propelled her into the WTA Top 10, and following her Indian Wells success, she achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 6.
Sabalenka Reflects on Her Own Journey
Sabalenka, now the World No. 1, reflected on how having a strong team earlier in her career might have changed her trajectory.
“I wish I’d had my current team when I was that age. I probably would be much bigger by now,” she admitted.
However, she also acknowledged that her past experiences shaped her into the player she is today.
“Well, I don’t have any regrets because it’s my experience. Because of that experience, I’m much more mature right now, and I know things,” she said. “But of course, I wish I would have been a little bit smarter at that age or listened to my family a little bit more.”
Sabalenka is currently coached by Anton Dubrov, who initially served as her hitting partner before taking over as head coach in 2020, following her split with longtime coach Dmitry Tursunov. Her team also includes fitness coach Jason Stacy and hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski.
Mirra Andreeva’s rapid ascent and her wise choice in coaching have already made a significant impact on her young career. As she continues to climb the rankings, her partnership with Conchita Martinez may prove to be one of the most pivotal decisions of her journey.