Emma Raducanu on rotating coaches: ‘People might look at me like I’m crazy but I trust my decision-making’

Tennis News
Emma Raducanu talks to the media

Emma Raducanu’s decision to constantly chop and change coaches is not everyone’s cup of tea, but the US Open champion says she is “pretty confident in how I’m working”.

The teenager is looking for a fourth new coach in under a year as she parted ways with Torben Beltz after working with the Belgian for just five months.

Beltz was added to her backroom staff in November, but she cut ties with him ahead of the Madrid Open as she decided that “the best direction for my development is to transition to a new training model with the LTA supporting in the interim”.

Before teaming up with Beltz, Raducanu worked with Andrew Richardson and he guided her to her fairytale title at the US Open in September last year before their short-term deal came to an end.

Meanwhile, Nigel Sears was the man who was in her box when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon on her main draw debut last year.

The coaching merry-go-round has certainly raised a few eyebrows, but Raducanu – is working with Iain Bates, the head of women’s tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association – is comfortable taking a different approach.

“That is definitely a journey [where] I’m learning on the way but it’s just what works for me as an individual,” she told WSJ magazine.

“It might not work for anyone else and people might look at me like I’m crazy but I trust my own decision-making and my own beliefs of what I think is right for myself.

“I’m pretty confident in how I’m working and my mindset and outlook towards how I’m approaching my tennis right.”

Raducanu has struggled with injury in recent weeks as she battled with a back injury at both the Madrid Open and Italian Open.

It remains to be seen if the 19-year-old will be in the main draw at next week’s French Open as she insisted that she will only return to action once she is fully fit.

Emma Raducanu

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