Emma Raducanu not seeking new coach after split from Francisco Roig
Emma Raducanu has declared she is not actively seeking a new coach following her split from Francisco Roig, her ninth coach since turning professional, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking in Japan while announcing her lucrative new Uniqlo partnership, Britain’s top-ranked female player expressed satisfaction with her current arrangement alongside hitting partner Alexis Canter. The 27-year-old Canter, a former British professional who reached a career-high ranking of world number 779, guided Raducanu to her first final since her 2021 US Open triumph at the Transylvania Open earlier this month.
Roig, who previously worked with Rafael Nadal, parted ways with Raducanu at the end of January after six months together. The decision followed a personal connection that ultimately revealed some tactical disagreements. “I think I had a great experience with Francis in terms of how we got on so well… the rapport was great. I think in the end, we just weren’t aligning on certain key aspects. But we still maintain a good relationship,” Raducanu explained.
Raducanu’s competitive journey has included challenges, notably following an error-strewn second-round defeat to Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open, where she expressed frustration with her remoulded game. “I know the drills that I need to be doing just repetition of doing those key fundamentals. I think I want to go back to that and a more aggressive style of playing,” she stated.
In parallel with her coaching developments, Raducanu was unveiled as a global brand ambassador for Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo in a deal reportedly worth £2.6 million annually. This agreement will see her actively involved in designing her on-court clothing and participating in community engagement activities globally, underlining her enduring commercial appeal despite recent on-court inconsistency.
Raducanu’s run to the Cluj-Napoca final came amid a physical toll, as she contracted a virus that has been difficult to shake. This illness contributed to first-round exits at both Doha and Dubai, where she encountered medical issues during play. “I had really long effects for the last three weeks. I’ve been trying to clear them. So the Middle East trip was very difficult for me,” she acknowledged. With the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells commencing on March 4, Raducanu remains focused on regaining her full fitness, remarking, “I’m getting ready for Indian Wells and just trying to get back to full health. And I still have a bit of time, so I’m just looking forward to doing my best to be ready for that.”
The dynamics of Raducanu’s career illustrate the complexity faced by athletes in navigating both personal and professional realms. A vivid demonstration of how swiftly fortunes can shift, her journey continues to capture the attention of the sporting world, reminding us that in tennis, as in life, the road to success remains unpredictable.
