Emma Raducanu has another new coach as John McEnroe gives his verdict

WTA Tour

Kevin Palmer
July 28, 2022

Emma Radunau will work with a Russian coach as she begins preparations for her US Open title defence next month, after it emerged she has hired former top 20 player Dmitry Tursunov to work with her in America.

Raducanu has struggled to find a settled coaching set-up since her remarkable US Open win almost a year ago, with Britain’s LTA offering her coaching support as she finds her feet on the WTA Tour.

Now, according to a report in the Daily Mail, she has made the move to recruit Tursunov, who recently enjoyed success with Anett Kontaveit of Estonia, taking her into the world’s top 10.

Raducanu will hope a player who had a reputation as something of a maverick on the ATP Tour during a career that saw him reach the fourth round at Wimbledon on two occasions.

Former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe told Tennis365 that Raducanu needs to find stability off the court before success on it will arrive.

“No one wins a major if they are not a great player and hopefully she has belief, but a lot has changed for her since then.

“I”m not close to her. In fact. As a matter of fact, I’ve never spoken to her. I hope to have the opportunity soon because she is obviously a breath of fresh air. She is a very sweet girl, a beautiful girl and plays great tennis. What’s not to like.

“It has been hard to watch her struggling, but I don’t know if she needs time. She needs the right stability and people around her and I don’t know what’s going on there.

“You don’t go through a tournament where you don’t lose a single set and beat some of the top female players and not be a great player.”

The British No 1 make a debut appearance in the Citi Open in Washington next month, before playing in the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters events, where 1000 ranking points will be up for grabs in each.

That before she plays once again at the US Open and will aim to reclaim the 2000 ranking points she won there last September.

So the next month will be vital to Raducanu as she looks to justify her status as one of the rising stars of the game, with Tursunov the latest coach trying to build her aura all over again.

Emma Raducanu