Enjoying my stint as coach: Conchita Martinez

Having a ladies captain for the Davis Cup team is quite unique but former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez is doing duty with elan. She joined the Spanish team only two years ago and is shouldering the task of putting the team back into the World Group with passion and dedication.

The 44-year-old is here for the Davis Cup World Group playoff against India this weekend and the former world no. 2 is enjoying her new avatar.

“It is a totally different feeling. I know I can never be a player again so I am trying to enjoy my duties as a coach. We have a great team with players like Nadal and Ferrer so that makes my job a lot easier,” Martinez told this paper here on Wednesday.

“It can be a bit hectic sometimes. There are moments when I become a bit tense. There are times when I am under pressure because of the match situation. It is a lot different from playing. You know you cannot go and help your players on the court or play in their place when they are in a tight situation.

“But my experience as a player helps fulfil my duties as a coach,” Martinez added, who is also the non-playing captain of the Fed Cup team.

With only one Grand Slam in her kitty, non-playing captain Martinez regrets not winning more titles during her career, but is now eager to fulfill that void by achieving success as a coach.

Martinez won the ladies’ singles title at Wimbledon in 1994, defeating American legend Martina Navratilova in the final and became the only Spaniard to achieve the feat. She finished runner-up at the Australian Open and French Open in 1998 and 2000 respectively.

“I would have loved to have won more trophies in my career. I won Wimbledon as player, but I would have really liked more Grand Slam titles.

“But now that I have become a coach, I want to be more successful than when I was a player. Our main target now is to return to the World Group and hopefully win the Davis Cup,” the Barcelona, resident said.

The 1996 Olympics bronze medallist admitted her team were struggling to cope with the Delhi heat, but was happy with how they were trying to adjust to the conditions.

“The conditions here are really tough. We are not used to so much heat. But we are happy with how practice has gone so far. The courts are really nice. Our players have adjusted to the courts and the conditions here,” she added.

Spain have been out of the World Group for the last couple of years, losing to relative minnows Brazil and Germany in the play-offs earlier.

The former champions are reluctant to let go of their chance to make a return to the World Group and have brought a full strength squad for the tie.

“The Indians will be dangerous in their own conditions. I am very happy that now we have the opportunity here to return to the World Group.”