In a surprising twist, British tennis star Emma Raducanu has split with her coach Francis Roig mere weeks before the prestigious Wimbledon Championships. The 21-year-old, who famously won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021, had been working with the Spanish coach since April but has now decided to go it alone for the time being.
The sudden coaching change comes at a crucial moment in the tennis calendar, with Wimbledon set to begin on July 1st. Raducanu had been training with Roig at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where she was preparing for the grass court season.
Timing Raises Eyebrows
Tennis insiders are questioning the timing of the decision, as players typically seek stability ahead of Grand Slam tournaments. "It's unusual to see a player make such a significant change so close to a major," commented former British number one Annabel Croft.
Raducanu's coaching history has been somewhat turbulent since her historic US Open victory. She's worked with several high-profile coaches including Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, and Dmitry Tursunov before briefly teaming up with Roig.
Berrettini Connection
Interestingly, Roig continues to work with Italian star Matteo Berrettini, who recently reached the final at the Stuttgart Open. Some speculate this dual commitment may have influenced Raducanu's decision, though neither party has confirmed this.
The young Brit has shown promising form recently, reaching the semi-finals at the Nottingham Open before bowing out to eventual champion Katie Boulter. Her performance demonstrated glimpses of the fearless tennis that catapulted her to stardom in 2021.
Wimbledon Expectations
All eyes will now be on Raducanu as she prepares to compete at SW19 without a formal coach. The tournament holds special significance for the Bromley-born player, who made her breakthrough there in 2021 by reaching the fourth round as a wildcard.
"Emma's always been an independent thinker," noted BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller. "While the timing is curious, she's proven before that she can thrive under unconventional circumstances."
With Wimbledon just around the corner, the tennis world waits to see if Raducanu's gamble will pay off or if she'll seek new guidance before the tournament begins.
