Anne Keothavong explains why Carlos Rodriguez ‘would be a great choice’ as coach for Emma Raducanu

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Great Britain's Emma Raducanu plays a shot

Carlos Rodriguez has emerged as the front-runner to become Emma Raducanu’s permanent coach and Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong believes he would be a good appointment.

Barely a fortnight after winning the US Open as a qualifier, Raducanu parted company with Andrew Richardson as she confirmed that the short-term contract would not be extended.

Playing in her first tournament since her New York fairytale, the teenager roped in Lawn Tennis Association women’s coach Jeremy Bates for her BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

However, it was a short-lived stay in the California desert as she lost her opening clash against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, going down 6-2, 6-4 against the Belarusian on Friday.

Former British No 1 gives verdict on Emma Raducanu’s Indian Wells loss as US Open champion is urged not ‘overthink’ defeat

Before the match, The Telegraph reported that Rodriguez – who coached seven-time Grand Slam winner former world No 1 Justine Henin as well as Li Na – who won the 2014 Australian Open under his tutelage – is top of the short list.

Keothavong is impressed by Argentine Rodriguez, but warns that the player and coach need to “click on and off court”.

“He has close links to Max Eisenbud her agent at IMG,” she told Amazon Prime. “There is a link there, he comes with a lot of experience, he is a tough taskmaster, he likes discipline, he understands the game, he has a great work ethic, if it is going to be Rodriguez then that would be a great choice.

“But until you spend time with that person you never quite know, despite Carlos having plenty of experience, whether you will click, you have to click on and off court if you are going to do all those things together.”

Anne Keothavong Carlos Rodriguez Emma Raducanu

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