Mirra Andreeva lifted the Wimbledon trophy under the guidance of Sandra Zaniewska, becoming the first female‑coached Grand Slam champion since Garbiñe Muguruza in 2017. Andreeva’s 19‑year‑old triumph joins Marta Kostyuk, Anna Kalinskaya and Caty McNally as the only top‑50 players with women as primary coaches, highlighting a slow but noticeable shift in the sport’s coaching hierarchy.

The WTA reports that women now represent 19% of registered coaches, up from 6% in 2017. Despite the rise, only four top‑50 singles players retain a female coach, a gap attributed to entrenched stereotypes, family considerations and the prevalence of male hitting partners. Zaniewska notes that female coaches often face scrutiny for expressing confidence differently, which can be misread as insecurity.

The Coach Inclusion Programme, launched in 2021, aims to expand pathways for women by partnering with national federations and offering mentorship. Graduates like Jaslyn Hewitt‑Shehadie and Lauren English credit the initiative for providing “stepping stones” into elite roles. As more female coaches enter the tour, players will have broader options, but the sport remains far from a gender‑balanced coaching landscape.