The coaching box is a hub of activity in tennis, with players and coaches constantly communicating and strategising. However, despite the sport's commitment to gender equality, female coaches remain a rarity in the top echelons of the game.
According to figures, only four players in the top 50 singles have a female coach, highlighting the need for greater representation. This issue is not unique to the men's game, with women making up just 6% of registered coaches on the WTA Tour in 2017, a figure that has since more than tripled to 19% in 2026.
One of the few examples of a female coach working at the top level is Conchita Martinez, who guided 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva to her first Grand Slam title at the French Open. Martinez's own experiences as a player and coach make her an inspiration to others, and she believes that the landscape is changing in favour of female coaches.
However, despite progress, there are still significant barriers to overcome. Family commitments, a relentless calendar, and constant travel all take a toll on women's careers in coaching, and the perception that female coaches are 'insecure' or lacking confidence persists.
Sandra Zaniewska, coach of world number 13 Marta Kostyuk, believes that women are often judged unfairly because they express confidence differently. 'We just think more, so we're more conscious of things,' she said. 'We really want to make sure that we figure it out before we give advice to someone.'