Emma Raducanu has rehired Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to her historic 2021 US Open title, as she prepares to return to competition after a two-month layoff. The world No. 30 will reunite with Richardson at the upcoming WTA 500 event in Strasbourg.
A Familiar Face Returns
Raducanu, now 23, briefly trained with the 52-year-old coach at the Ferrer Academy in Spain last month, but initially stated there were no plans to extend their partnership. However, she has now formally rehired Richardson. "Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time," Raducanu said.
Richardson has known Raducanu since she was 11 years old and coached her during her remarkable US Open victory as a qualifier ranked 150th. After that triumph, Raducanu chose not to continue with Richardson, seeking a coach with more WTA Tour experience. Since then, her coaching decisions have faced scrutiny, but she has increasingly preferred trusted figures who knew her before her breakthrough.
Injury and Illness Struggles
Raducanu has not had a head coach since splitting with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open in January. Hitting partner Alexis Canter and physiotherapist Emma Stewart have accompanied her to tournaments. She also informally worked with ex-coach Mark Petchey in Indian Wells in March.
The British No. 1 has been sidelined by a lingering post-viral illness that forced her to withdraw from tournaments in Miami, Linz, Madrid, and Rome. She reached the final of the Transylvania Open in February but fell ill during the championship match. She struggled through the Middle East swing, retiring in Doha and losing early in Dubai. After winning a round in Indian Wells, she lost to Amanda Anisimova and has not competed since.
Raducanu had hoped to return at the Italian Open, traveling to Rome for practice and media commitments, but was not ready to compete. She is now expected to make her comeback in Strasbourg with Richardson by her side before heading to the French Open.
