Emma Raducanu seeks to reconnect with her natural playing style
Emma Raducanu has suggested that her succession of coaches have hindered rather than helped her game, revealing that her natural playing style has been “coached out” of her, reports BritPanorama.
The British No 1, who is currently preparing for Indian Wells in California, stated that she is now focused on reconnecting with her instincts after years of conflicting guidance from various coaches.
“I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit,” the 2021 US Open champion told the BBC. “So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit.”
Raducanu’s collaboration with Spanish coach Francisco Roig ended following the Australian Open in January due to differing views on her approach. Roig became the seventh full-time coach she has worked with since her Grand Slam victory.
Expressing concern about engaging another permanent coach, the world No 24 cited the intense media scrutiny that would accompany any new appointment. “I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial,” she explained. This raises questions about the pressures that young athletes face in the spotlight.
Instead of committing to a single coach, Raducanu is opting to draw on multiple advisors, with Mark Petchey playing a significant role in her training at Indian Wells. Petchey, who previously guided Andy Murray early in his career, has worked with Raducanu on a day-to-day basis during the tournament.
Raducanu described their collaboration as beneficial. “I work really well when I’m with him,” she noted, expressing satisfaction with the current arrangements and mentioning progress in her game. She will begin her Indian Wells campaign on Friday against qualifier Anastasia Zakharova, having received a first-round bye.
After facing challenges recently, including a chest infection that hampered her performance in Doha and Dubai, Raducanu arrives in California fully recovered. She used the past week to acclimatize to the desert conditions, essential for her performance in such a demanding environment.
Alexis Canter, though with limited coaching experience, continues to support Raducanu, having been alongside her during successful runs in Washington and Cluj. Raducanu believes that trusting her natural instincts is crucial to improving her ranking in the competitive landscape of women’s tennis.
In a sport where the psychological aspect is often as pivotal as the technical, Raducanu’s journey underscores how external pressures can complicate an athlete’s development and emphasize the importance of self-discovery on the path to success.
