Emma Raducanu Foregoes New Coach, Eyes Aggressive Style at Indian Wells

Emma Raducanu will compete at Indian Wells and the Miami Open next month without a full-time coach, continuing her search for stability in her support team. The British No. 1 parted ways with Francisco Roig after her second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, marking the ninth coach she’s had since turning professional.

Relationship with Former Coach

Raducanu acknowledged a positive rapport with Roig but indicated a misalignment on key aspects of her game. “I think I had a great experience with Francis in terms of how we got on so well… the rapport was great. I think we just weren’t aligning on certain key aspects. But we still maintain a really good relationship,” she stated.

Alexis Canter Steps In

Currently, Raducanu is working with hitting partner Alexis Canter, who previously supported her during a successful run to the Transylvania Open final last year. “Right now I have Alexis in my corner,” Raducanu said. “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 and Cluj… so it’s going well.”

Return to Fundamentals and Aggression

Raducanu is focusing on refining fundamental skills and adopting a more aggressive playing style. “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,” she explained.

Recent Health Challenges

The 23-year-old has faced health setbacks recently, including a viral infection contracted during the Transylvania Open. “In Cluj, I picked up like a virus, I think, at the start of the tournament,” Raducanu revealed. “So I was dealing with that and the after-effects… I had really long effects for the last three weeks. I’ve been trying to clear them. So the Middle East trip was very difficult for me.” She is currently focused on regaining full health in preparation for Indian Wells.

Looking Ahead to Wimbledon

Despite the challenges, Raducanu expressed excitement about the prospect of playing at Wimbledon this summer. “That month of the year on the grass is something really special that we all look forward to as Brits,” she said, reflecting on her memorable 2021 debut at the tournament and her subsequent US Open victory. “Having to pull out of that match in the fourth round and then a few months later winning the US Open… it’s pretty special. I feel like everyone’s seen my history. So to be going back [to Wimbledon] feels very comfortable.”

Addressing Online Abuse

Raducanu acknowledged the prevalence of online abuse directed towards athletes, 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.”

Resilience and Future Goals

Raducanu emphasized the importance of resilience in navigating the demands of professional tennis. “Sport is a great vehicle in terms of teaching you life lessons. I believe resilience is the biggest lesson that I can seize away from this,” she said. “Just doing your best each day and striving to be the best version of yourself is my goal. But I think just knowing that whatever challenge comes my way, I can keep falling down seven times, but I’m going to get up eight times. That’s something that I keep with me. It serves me pretty well in the tough moments.”