Emma Raducanu exited the primary Grand Slam of the yr on the second hurdle, falling to world No. 55 Anastasia Potapova.
Emma Raducanu is clearly struggling (Picture: Getty)
Emma Raducanu would not precisely declare her 2026 has acquired off to the high-flying begin she would’ve hoped for. The British No. 1 was dumped out of the Australian Open within the second spherical by Anastasia Potapova, which means her third-round match in 2025 stays her finest effort in Melbourne.
Whereas Raducanu shall be upset together with her early exit, her feedback on her present playstyle have rung alarm bells concerning her working relationships. The 2021 US Open winner appeared to intention a really obscure dig at her coach Francisco Roig, stating she’d prefer to play “differently” on the court docket. She stated: “I wish to be taking part in a unique manner.
“I simply wish to hit the ball to the corners and exhausting. I really feel like I’m doing all this selection, and it’s not doing what I need it to do.
“I must work on taking part in in a far more just like how I used to be taking part in once I was youthful. I all the time simply modified route, took the ball early, and went for it.
“I believe I do have the flexibility to do many issues on the court docket, however I really feel like [even] as I’m studying all these abilities, I want to stay to my weapons a bit as nicely.”
So, the place does Raducanu go from right here? She might shrug off the Grand Slam loss and proceed to work with Roig, whose expertise working with Rafael Nadal proves he’s used to instructing winners the right way to win.
Raducanu has been working carefully with Francisco Roig (Picture: Getty)
Or, a reunion with Mark Petchey might be on the playing cards after the pair appeared to work nicely collectively in 2025. Throughout his four-month stint as her coach, Raducanu made two runs to the quarter-finals on the Miami Open and Queen’s, in addition to showcasing a really aggressive and aggressive aspect at Wimbledon.
The connection between the duo stays amicable, as Petchey instructed The Huge T Podcast that he’d be within the Brit’s nook perpetually. He stated: “Emma and I by no means fell out. It simply acquired to the purpose the place I felt I could not be the primary coach.
“I am glad for her. We nonetheless chat, we’re nonetheless in good communication, she’ll nonetheless run some stuff previous me. I am going to assist her perpetually, I am going to take a bullet for her.”
May a fellow Brit and former Grand Slam winner be a greater choice? (Picture: Getty)
Grand Slam winner Andy Murray might be one other alternative within the coaches field after he fiercely defended the 23-year-old from critics. Providing his recommendation, the previous Wimbledon champion stated: “In case you’ve acquired an ex-British No 1 or an ex-world No 1 saying they don’t agree with the way you hit your forehand or the technique you utilize in matches, it may be a bit undermining.
“I do know pundits have to do this, nevertheless it’s actually not useful for younger gamers, particularly, who possibly aren’t capable of block that out and belief their coaches. If any of the youthful British gamers ever wish to discuss to me privately, I’d all the time do this.”
The pair had been set to affix forces at Wimbledon in 2024 for the combined doubles however Raducanu pulled out to give attention to her ladies’s singles probabilities. Whereas this brought on some rigidity, Murray insists they’re “nice” after clearing the air.
The 38-year-old briefly labored with rival Novak Djokovic and admitted it was “extraordinarily difficult,” however hinted that he would return to teaching “at some stage” sooner or later.
Or, ought to Raducanu simply eliminate any outdoors affect and solely belief her instincts on the court docket? Dan Kiernan actually thinks so, as he urges the Brit to “study what she wants” to study on her personal time.
Kiernan, who coaches two-time US Open doubles winner Gaby Dabrowski, instructed BBC Radio 5 Stay: “That might inform me that relationship in all probability does not have an excessive amount of longer to go. If I used to be to advise her what to do, I’d say to go and do six months with no coach.
“I believe she must go on the market and study what she wants. Go and play the sport she needs to play, categorical herself how she needs to precise herself, and make some errors herself with out everybody over her.”
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No matter Raducanu chooses to do, she a minimum of has a full season of tennis forward of her to style a comeback to the top of the game. That US Open triumph is feeling very way back and the 23-year-old shall be determined to show doubters flawed.
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