/>

Raducanu splits from coach who helped her to US Open win

The 18-year-old Briton said on Friday she wants a more experienced coach now she will be playing in bigger events on the WTA Tour.

Published : Sep 24, 2021 20:06 IST , LONDON

Raducanu said she didn’t have a coach in mind to replace Richardson and does not expect to make any decision until the end of the season.
Raducanu said she didn’t have a coach in mind to replace Richardson and does not expect to make any decision until the end of the season.
lightbox-info

Raducanu said she didn’t have a coach in mind to replace Richardson and does not expect to make any decision until the end of the season.

Emma Raducanu has split from her coach, less than two weeks after winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier.

Andrew Richardson coached Raducanu for two years at youth level and linked up with her again in July on a short-term deal for the duration of her time in the United States ahead of and during the U.S. Open.

The 18-year-old Briton said on Friday she wants a more experienced coach now she will be playing in bigger events on the WTA Tour.

“I’m looking for someone who has been at that level and knows what it takes,” Raducanu said.

“And especially right now because I’m so new to it, I really need someone to guide me who’s already been through that.”

Richardson is a former Davis Cup player for Britain but has little experience of the WTA Tour.

READ: Bencic, Sakkari reach Ostrava Open quarterfinals

“At the time, I thought Andrew would be a great coach to trial so we went to the States but never did I even dream of winning the U.S. Open and having the run I did,” Raducanu said, “and now I’m ranked No. 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me.”

Raducanu said she didn’t have a coach in mind to replace Richardson and does not expect to make any decision until the end of the season.

Raducanu is back in training after taking some time off following the U.S. Open and is weighing up when to return to the tour, with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells — one of the biggest events on tour — starting on October 6.

“I’ll decide in the next few days where I’m going to go to but, wherever I play next, I’m going to make sure I’m ready,” she said. “I don’t want to jump into things too early.”

Raducanu played with the Duchess of Cambridge, the patron of the Lawn Tennis Association, at a homecoming event on Friday.

READ: Osaka confirms withdrawal from Indian Wells

Asked if she had more nerves playing Kate or her U.S. Open final opponent Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu said: “I was actually very nervous playing the duchess — I was like, ‘Don’t miss, don’t miss.'”

Raducanu, who ended Britain's 44-year wait for a women’s Grand Slam champion, said Kate's forehand was “incredible.”

“I was very impressed. It was a lot of fun to play tennis with the duchess,” Raducanu said of the event hosted by the LTA Youth program at the National Tennis Centre outside London.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment