ATP Tour
In tennis, a sport that spotlights the lone competitor, it’s easy to forget how much of a player’s identity is shaped long before they step on court. For Martin Landaluce, the steady climb toward the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF hasn’t only been about growing into his talent, it’s been about having the right voice next to him, pushing, guiding, grounding.
One of those voices belongs to Oscar Burrieza, one of the Spaniard’s two coaches, alongside Esteban Carril.
Landaluce’s partnership with Burrieza began with a phone call. Landaluce was just 14, full of potential but still a mystery to the top coaches. Burrieza was working with established pros in Madrid when Landaluce’s father reached out.
“I remember his dad called me and talked to me about the possibility of coaching Martin,” Burrieza told ATPTour.com in September. “He wasn’t sure if I’d be open to coaching a 14-year-old. He asked me if I knew him.”
Burrieza did what any coach does when curiosity sparks. He went online, pulled up a few matches and watched.
“Immediately, I liked what I saw,” Burrieza said. “From the first time we met, we had a good connection. Even early on, I could see he was a really nice kid, mature for his age, responsible. On court, he was ready to work and eager to learn. Honestly, it was easy to start working with him.”
That ease has turned into years of discipline, progress and perspective. It is a combination that has fueled one of the most balanced young players on Tour.
Landaluce captured the US Open Boys’ singles title in 2022 and then lifted his first ATP Challenger Tour title in 2024. A second triumph at that level followed in 2025, with the 19-year-old reaching a career-high No. 110 in the PIF ATP Rankings in October.
Landaluce’s rise has been built brick by brick and every milestone hits with a familiar mix of pride and purpose for Burrieza.
“As a coach, every time you get a good result with your player, you feel proud and happy,” Burrieza said. “Happy for them, but also for yourself and the work you’ve put in. When Martin became World No. 1 in juniors, when he won the US Open junior title, those were very special moments. But honestly, not much changes. We enjoy the training weeks, not just the competition.”
What sets Landaluce apart goes beyond his backhand or his court sense. Burrieza believes his greatest advantage is something rare, something almost intangible.
“For me, his balance, mentally, is one of his biggest talents,” Burrieza said. “Tennis is mentally brutal. Most weeks, you lose. But Martin has this ability to wake up the next day and get back to practice like nothing happened. He resets emotionally. Whether he’s about to play at the Madrid Open or a Futures match, he acts the same. That consistency in attitude is rare.”
It’s also nurtured. Burrieza gives him space, lets him be independent, lets him be 19. They travel together, train together and find rhythm in the mundane. And beneath the professional structure, there’s a warmth that powers everything.
“We don’t need to be friends because I’m his coach,” Burrieza said. “I care about him a lot, as a person. I love him, and I truly want the best for him.”
That human connection is what shapes a player-coach relationship.
It’s a theme that runs through this generation of #NextGenATP stars. Italian Federico Cina knows it intimately. His rise, featuring his first tour-level win in Miami and three ATP Challenger Tour finals, has been built around the familiar voice he hears every day: his father and coach, Francesco Cina.
“That’s maybe the hardest part, he’s the coach on court and dad off court,” Cina said. “But my dad is really good at separating the two. On court, he talks to me like a coach, and off court he’s just my dad. I like having that balance. It’s very cool, and I feel lucky.”
They break down opponents together. They troubleshoot practices together. And when stress creeps in, Francesco resets his son the same way Burrieza steadies Landaluce.
“My coach and my dad remind me to keep enjoying practice,” Cina said. “Keeping that spirit is very important, and the results will come.”
Burrieza will hope to push Landaluce to the next level this year in Jeddah, where the Spaniard competes at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. For Cina, more progress alongside his father Francesco and he will be in good shape to qualify for the 20-and-under event in 2026.
This is the fifth feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line. Read our other stories here:
Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run & Vinci’s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories
Next Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap
Learning from Legends: Nadal, Cilic & Ram inspiring #NextGenATP stars
Fuel for the future: Inside the mindset of the best youngsters
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