Growing up in Monzon, a town in northern Spain, Conchita Martinez honed her looping topspin forehands against a formidable opponent known as “Martina”.
Named after her idol, the great Martina Navratilova, this so-called opponent was the wall of the factory where her father worked. Hours of her childhood were spent hitting balls against it.
Fittingly, on 3 July 1994, the then 22-year-old earned her moment in her maiden Grand Slam final against the real Martina.
Spanish players were not meant to win on grass, but Martinez shattered that sterotype to deny the legendary Czech-born American in her 12th and last Wimbledon final, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Navratilova was in full flight rushing the net at every opportunity but the third-ranked Spaniard had the belief in her heavy-dipping groundstrokes with her impressive passing shots – 28 for the day – proving the difference in a near-two-hour clash.
"She never passed me better off the backhand than she did today," Navratilova said. "She passed me as well as anyone ever has, even Monica Seles.”
The 37-year-old Navratilova had not won a tour title for a year and had captured the last of her nine Wimbledon titles four years prior.
Martinez’s best results had typically come on the slower clay. Navratilova would start favourite given her grass-court exploits.
With Navratilova serving to stay in the opening set, the Spaniard reeled off three straight passing-shots – a brilliant forehand lob and two backhand winners crosscourt – before securing it 6-4, aptly, on another crosscourt forehand pass.
“My tactics were to try to hold Martina in the back of the court, which is difficult because she was slicing to my forehand and it was really hurting me because my forehand was getting short and she was coming to the net a lot, but of course my passing shots helped me a lot,” Martinez said.
Three unexpected errors from the third seed handed Navratilova a set point to level the match and she landed the second set 6-3 with a yelp of “yes” when the Spaniard netted a backhand.
I'm really sorry to beat her. But I'm really pleased that I did
Martinez broke immediately to open the deciding set and faced her ultimate test when the nine-time champion brought up two break points at 3-4 with a beautifully controlled backhand stab volley.
With the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her son Prince William cheering on, this was Martinez’s moment of truth. She saved both break points and went on to hold with a huge backhand crosscourt winner for 5-3.
Serving to stay in the match, Navratilova misfired one last time, her backhand pass landing well wide to make Martinez the first Spanish woman to win Wimbledon.
“She's a really good player,” Martinez said of Navratilova. “My feelings are, you know, she did great to get into the finals and play so relaxed and I'm really sorry to beat her. But I'm really pleased that I did.
“It was terrific. I don’t know how to express it, too emotional.”
The greatest women’s champion Wimbledon had seen took her final bow, taking a small piece of the hallowed turf and waving farewell.
"I gave it my all and I lost the bloody match, but what a way to go,” Navratilova said.
“Absolutely a mixture – very sad, very happy, relieved, everything. Walking around really hit me after the match it was over, that this is it. I didn’t think about it before. I would have cried had I won or lost.”
Martinez had conquered the wall. It would be her sole Grand Slam triumph in a remarkable 18-year career.
