British number one Emma Raducanu has confirmed she is embarking on a fresh search for a coach following her split from Francisco Roig. The announcement comes in the wake of her early exit from the Australian Open, where she suffered a second-round defeat to Russia's Anastasia Potapova.
A Coaching Carousel Continues
Raducanu's statement on social media marked the end of her six-month partnership with Roig, a former long-time member of Rafael Nadal's coaching team. "Francis, Thank you for our time together," Raducanu wrote. "You have been more than a coach to me and I will cherish the many times we spent together on and off the court. While we have come to the conclusion together that we ought not to move forward, please know that I'm very grateful for all you have taught me and our time shared."
This development continues a notable pattern in the young star's career. Since her remarkable fourth-round run at Wimbledon in 2024, Raducanu has now cycled through nine different coaches in just 18 months. This list includes notable names such as Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and most recently, Nick Cavaday, Mark Petchey, and Francisco Roig.
Technical Troubles Down Under
Raducanu's Australian campaign was hampered by clear technical difficulties, particularly with her forehand. Observers noted a higher and lengthier swing on her forehand side, a stroke that had previously been a major weapon during her largely positive 2025 season. The Briton herself acknowledged the issue after her loss to Potapova, citing the fast court conditions in Melbourne as a challenge for her newly adjusted technique.
"I think it's something that probably happened in the last few weeks," Raducanu said of her forehand struggles. "It's not something that I really wanted to happen, so I need to kind of look at that and shorten it, because I feel like it's good in certain conditions when it's a little bit slower. But on these very quick courts it doesn't really work, so I need to adjust that."
In addition to the technical adjustments, Raducanu also pointed to a nagging foot injury and a missed off-season as contributing factors to her difficult start to the 2026 season.
Support Network and Next Steps
Beyond her primary coaches, Raducanu's support team has included several other figures. She has received guidance from family friend and former player Jane O'Donoghue, LTA head of women's tennis Iain Bates, and high performance coach Louis Cayer, renowned for his work with British WTA players.
Looking ahead, Raducanu's immediate competitive schedule will see her travel to Cluj, Romania for the Transylvania Open. This tournament holds personal significance as it is held in her father's home country. For this event, she will be accompanied by LTA coach Alexis Canter, providing interim support as her formal search for a new long-term coach begins in earnest.
The quest for coaching stability remains a central narrative for the 2021 US Open champion, whose rapid rise to the top of the game has been accompanied by this frequent turnover in her technical team. The tennis world will watch closely to see who steps into the role next and whether this appointment can provide the lasting partnership Raducanu seeks.
