Emma Raducanu Puts Coach Search on Hold After Roig Departure
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has publicly stated that she is not currently looking to appoint a new coach, following her decision to end her partnership with Francisco Roig in January. This move marks a significant shift for the former US Open champion, who had initially hired Roig on a short-term basis after Wimbledon last year before agreeing to extend their collaboration in December.
Parting Ways Amid a Challenging Season Start
The separation came shortly after Raducanu's second-round exit at the Australian Open, as the pair struggled to align on key aspects of her game development. Despite an extended off-season following her withdrawal from the Ningbo Open in October due to illness, the 23-year-old faced a string of early tournament exits at the start of the 2026 season, with her performance appearing muddled and less fluid under Roig's guidance.
Raducanu emphasized the positive aspects of their relationship, noting, "I think I had a great experience with Francis in terms of how we got on so well... the rapport was great. I think in the end, we just weren't aligning on certain key aspects. But we still maintain a good relationship."
Embracing Continuity with Alexis Canter
Since the split, Raducanu has been working with Alexis Canter, a former British player, who oversaw her run to the final at the Transylvania Open earlier this month. This achievement marked her first final appearance since her historic US Open victory nearly five years ago. Raducanu expressed satisfaction with this arrangement, highlighting Canter's familiarity with her as both a person and a player.
"Right now I have Alexis in my corner," she added. "He knows me as a person. He knows me as a player. And I've actually had some success with him in the past year in Washington, where she beat Naomi Osaka and reached the semi-finals, and in Cluj... so it's going well."
Raducanu stressed her focus on repetition and fundamentals, aiming to develop a more aggressive playing style. She revealed, "I know the drills that I need to be doing right now in this moment in time - just repetition of doing those key fundamentals. I think I want to go back to that and develop a more aggressive style of playing."
Overcoming Health and External Challenges
The athlete has been grappling with the after-effects of a virus since her time in Romania, which contributed to her early exit at the Dubai Open last week, where she fell in three sets to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic in the first round. Despite this, Raducanu is determined to be fit for the upcoming Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells next month.
Reflecting on past incidents, including a distressing experience at last year's Dubai event where a man with fixated behaviour disrupted her match, leading to a restraining order, Raducanu addressed the broader issue of social media abuse. She admitted to a stance of unwilling acceptance, stating, "For me, I've accepted that it's going to keep happening. Whatever everyone tries to do about it, it seems like there are just too many people - that there's no real way to stop it. It comes with the territory of being in the spotlight or having a public presence."
New Brand Ambassador Role and Future Prospects
Amid these developments, Raducanu was unveiled as a new global brand ambassador for Uniqlo in a lucrative £2.6 million deal. When asked about her immediate plans, she reiterated, "Right now, I wouldn't say I'm actively looking for a coach." This decision underscores her commitment to stability and continuity with Canter as she navigates the pressures of professional tennis and public scrutiny.
As Raducanu prepares for future tournaments, her focus remains on harnessing her current support system and refining her game, with hopes of reclaiming top form on the international stage.
