Emma Raducanu has returned to training with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 2021 US Open title, as she prepares to make her comeback on clay. The British No. 1 has not played a competitive match in nearly eight weeks, missing tournaments in Miami, Linz, and Madrid.
Raducanu spent several days training with Richardson at the Ferrer Academy in Alicante, Spain, last week. The academy was founded by former world No. 1 David Ferrer. The training block was aimed at preparing for the remainder of the clay-court season and a return to competition.
The 23-year-old attracted criticism when she parted ways with Richardson just weeks after her historic US Open victory in 2021. However, in recent years, she has favoured working with familiar faces who knew her before her breakout run at Flushing Meadows. Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey are among those she has relied on due to their long history with her.
Raducanu has now sought guidance from Richardson again, though there are no plans for him to stay on for the rest of the clay swing. She has not had a permanent coach since parting company with Francisco Roig in January. Instead, she has been travelling with hitting partner Alexis Canter and physiotherapist Emma Stewart, while Petchey briefly helped her at Indian Wells.
After training in Alicante, Raducanu returned to practice at the National Tennis Centre in London without Richardson. She now appears set to return at next week's Italian Open. Raducanu and Eva Lys have been listed on Saturday's practice schedule, booking a court from 12pm to 1pm.
There has been no official confirmation that Raducanu will compete in Rome, but booking a practice court is a positive sign. The Italian Open, a WTA 1000 event, begins on Tuesday. If seeded, Raducanu would not play until Thursday or Friday. She is defending 120 ranking points from a fourth-round run in Rome last year.
Raducanu could also enter WTA events in Strasbourg or Rabat the week before the French Open, or go straight to Paris. It has been almost two months since she suffered a 52-minute loss to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells, winning just two games. After training with Richardson, a trusted figure from the greatest three weeks of her career, Raducanu will hope to arrive in Rome feeling refreshed and ready to compete.
