Emma Raducanu’s ever-changing coaching carousel has once again become a hot topic, with eight coaches in less than 4 years fueling speculation about her long-term strategy. After parting ways with Nick Cavaday because of health concerns and briefly testing the waters with Vladimir Platenik, Raducanu’s box at the Sunshine Doubles featured familiar faces, Jane O’Donoghue and Mark Petchey. This nostalgic reunion sparked her best run since the 2021 US Open, landing her in the QF of Miami. However, veteran British ace Dan Evans has now weighed in with a candid take on Raducanu’s budding partnership with Petchey, spotlighting the deeper dilemma surrounding her coaching continuity and the uphill task of rebuilding her career. Wondering what he says?
British ace Emma Raducanu had to dig deep to overcome teenage qualifier Maya Joint in a thrilling first-round encounter at the Italian Open. The 2021 US Open champion was pushed to her limits by the 19-year-old Aussie but eventually emerged victorious with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3 win in Rome after 2 hours and 44 minutes of intense play.
Following the match, Raducanu provided a brief insight into her current coaching situation and how the dynamic is shaping up for her. “It’s been working pretty well,” Raducanu told BBC Sport in Rome. “Mark is doing his commentary work and around that he is going to help me as much as he can and hopefully the times align that he can be there with me in the matches. That’s why Jane is here for when he’s not able to make it to the session. While she’s not working it’s nice to have her as much as possible, but she will go back to work and then I need to figure another solution out.”
However, not everyone is convinced that the arrangement can stand the test of time, isn’t is? Veteran British star Dan Evans has shared his thoughts on the matter, expressing skepticism about the sustainability of Raducanu’s current setup. Speaking on the “5 Live Tennis” podcast, the former top seed highlighted potential issues looming on the horizon.
“It can’t last if she starts losing matches and Petchey is in the commentary box. That’s not going to work,” Evans added. “I think Emma will be looking for a new coach again pretty soon if she starts to lose some matches on the grass into the US swing. I’m not sure how that can last as it is.” Over the years, a long list of names, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Iain Bates, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Vladimir Platenik, have also coached her.
Emma has also previously spoken to Sky Sports Tennis, where she addressed the nature of her ongoing partnership with Mark Petchey. “We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now but is something that’s going really well. He’s [Petchey] someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. For now, it’s working really well, and it’s nice to be with someone that I feel comfortable with. I’m still figuring things out: what works for me, what doesn’t. What gets the best out of me. For now, I’m not getting as technical as I used to, maybe.”
Amidst all the coaching uncertainty, the 22-year-old remains focused on improving her on-court performances. Her gutsy win in Rome may serve as a stepping stone toward rediscovering her form and stability, even as the behind-the-scenes coaching shuffle continues to stir conversation across the tennis fraternity.
“I Feel Slightly Better,” Emma Raducanu Opens Up About How She’s Going to Utilize the Ongoing Clay Season
Emma Raducanu progressed to the 2nd round of the Italian Open with a gritty 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3 win over Australian qualifier Maya Joint at the Foro Italico on Wednesday evening. The Brit was on the verge of victory at 5-4 in the 2nd set but was broken, allowing Joint to force a decider after a dominant tie-break.
However, Raducanu responded with poise, racing to a 5-0 lead in the 3rd. Although Joint fought back to 5-3, the Brit closed it out on her 2nd attempt. Following the win, Raducanu reflected on her clay-court journey and how she plans to capitalize on the season.
“I feel slightly better than I did in Madrid,” Emma Raducanu added after her opening-round win. “I want to use this period of the clay season to try and work on certain things in my game that I think are going to help me bridge the gap to the next level. I want to take more balls on, I want to be more aggressive in certain points – I want to structure the points more on my terms.”
Now ranked 49th, Raducanu began her Rome campaign with a hard fought win. With her coaching situation still uncertain, how far can she go in the Italian Open? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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