Fresh off guiding Mirra Andreeva to her maiden Grand Slam title, former WTA World No.2 Conchita Martinez is helping shine a spotlight on the growing influence of women coaches on the WTA Tour.
Martinez’s recent success with Andreeva has included six WTA singles and three doubles titles. Sandra Zaniewska has also made a major impact, guiding Marta Kostyuk to titles this year at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open and WTA 250 Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, before reaching the Roland-Garros semifinals.
Both Martinez and Zaniewska have served as mentors within the WTA Coach Inclusion Program, which has supported 44 graduates from 18 nations since launching in 2021. With the addition of new partnerships, an additional 39 are expected to graduate this year.
The program’s growth has also coincided with a rise in women coaches on Tour. In 2017, women made up just 6% of registered coaches on Tour; by 2026, that figure has more than tripled, rising to 19%.
Above: Roland-Garros champion Mirra Andreeva and her coach Conchita Martinez. Source: WTA
Former Wimbledon Champion Conchita Martinez, who has previously coached Garbiñe Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see more women coaches working at the highest level of our sport. Coaching can be a challenging career path, and visibility matters. When young coaches can see women succeeding on the biggest stages, it helps them believe those opportunities are available to them too. Programs like the WTA Coach Inclusion Program are helping create those pathways, and I’m proud to support that work as a mentor.”
Sandra Zaniewska, who has also coached Petra Martić and Alizé Cornet, commented: “It has been a privilege to serve as a mentor in the Coach Inclusion Program over the past several years. Supporting and elevating women who aspire to coach at the highest levels of professional tennis is something I care deeply about. Throughout my own journey, I benefited tremendously from mentors who shared their knowledge, guidance, and belief in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help create those same opportunities for the next generation of women coaches.”
Recently at the HSBC Championships, four coaches from around Great Britain became the latest to participate from the LTA’s edition of the program. During Roland-Garros, in partnership with the FFT, eight coaches from across France graduated.
Valerie Camillo, WTA Chair, stated: “The phenomenal growth of the Coach Inclusion Program reflects the WTA’s commitment to shaping a more inclusive and higher performing future for our sport. What began as an effort to expand opportunity has become a powerful global platform, equipping women coaches with the skills, networks, and support needed to succeed at the highest levels of tennis.
Above: WTA Legend and coach ambassador Nicole Pratt (center) with Tennis Australia and Asia-Pacific WTA Coach Inclusion participants at the 2026 Australian Open. Source: WTA
“We saw that come to the fore at Roland-Garros this month, with two of our four semi-finalists crediting their progression to women coaches.
“Looking ahead, our focus is on broadening access, deepening investment, and creating even more pathways for women to thrive in coaching. The increasing presence and success of women coaches on the WTA Tour is not only a measure of progress, but a signal of what’s possible.”
During the 2026 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Rome, the WTA Coach Inclusion Program expanded globally in 2026 with the FITP (Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel), which will open applications from female coaches from Italy and Europe from October 2026.
The Coach Inclusion Program is now accessible worldwide through pathways delivered with the FFT (France), LTA (Great Britain), FITP (Italy and Europe), USTA (open to eligible coaches from all nations), and Tennis Australia (open to eligible coaches from all nations).
Mike Anders, WTA Coach Program Director, commented: “The success we are seeing from women coaches across the WTA Tour demonstrates exactly why programs like this matter. We are incredibly proud of our partnerships with the LTA, USTA Coaching, Tennis Australia, FFT and now with the FITP, which have expanded the scale of the WTA Coach Inclusion Program steadily since 2021.
Together, with federation support and through the mentorship of our incredible professional coaches, qualified women coaches from every nation on the planet now have access to world-class development opportunities and the support needed to advance their careers in professional tennis.”
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Source: WTA. Photo credit (top): © Rolex.
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