British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has opened up about her belief that her natural playing style has been systematically "coached out" of her during her professional career. The 23-year-old, who recently parted ways with coach Francisco Roig following her second-round exit at the Australian Open, is now embracing a more flexible approach to guidance rather than committing to a single full-time coach.
Rediscovering Her Tennis Identity
Raducanu, currently the British No. 1, revealed to BBC Sport that she wants to return to the instinctive way she played tennis as a younger athlete. "I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn't necessarily fit," Raducanu explained ahead of her second-round match at Indian Wells, where she received a first-round bye. "So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that's something that has been coached out of me a little bit."
A New Coaching Philosophy
The 2021 US Open champion has decided against immediately hiring another permanent coach, citing the intense scrutiny that comes with such appointments. "I don't necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised - even if it's a trial," Raducanu stated. "I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it's not necessarily the right decision."
Instead, Raducanu plans to "tap into a few people" for guidance, creating a more adaptable support system. She emphasized: "I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don't think it's necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to check every box."
Current Training Arrangements
For her upcoming campaign at Indian Wells, Raducanu will work with hitting partner Alexis Canter while also receiving input from Mark Petchey, who previously assisted during her quarter-final run at last season's Miami Open. Petchey will balance his coaching duties with his television commitments for Tennis Channel.
Raducanu expressed satisfaction with this temporary arrangement, noting: "So far Alexis has been really good, but I am definitely going to tap into a few people here and there." She arrives at the prestigious California tournament following a challenging series of matches in the Middle East.
Fundamental Differences with Previous Coaching
The tennis star hinted at significant philosophical differences with her former coach Roig, explaining that she wants to avoid situations where she disagrees with instructions but feels compelled to follow them. "I definitely have my mind open to it," she said regarding future coaching possibilities. "It's just that I would rather someone not come in and tell me 'let's do this', and I disagree with it but have to listen to them."
Raducanu's comments echo her earlier statements at the Australian Open, where she expressed a desire to "re-evaluate" her game and lamented losing her tennis "identity." Since her historic US Open victory, Raducanu has worked with several full-time coaches, but now appears determined to forge a more personalized path forward in her professional development.
