Bartoli Advises Raducanu to Emulate Sabalenka's Coaching Approach
Marion Bartoli, a former Wimbledon champion and Sky Sports analyst, has suggested that Emma Raducanu could benefit from adopting a coaching strategy similar to that of Aryna Sabalenka, who has achieved significant success with a stable coaching team. Sabalenka recently became the fifth woman in history to complete the 'Sunshine Double', winning the Miami Open final after claiming the Indian Wells crown. Her stable team, including coach Anton Dubrov, fitness coach Jason Stacy, hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski, and fiance Georgios Frangulis, has been instrumental in her success. The addition of Max Mirnyi, a former Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champion, has also brought variety to her game, particularly in her serve and volley. Raducanu, on the other hand, has had nine different coaches since her 2021 US Open win, including Francisco Roig, with whom she recently parted ways. Bartoli emphasized the importance of stability in coaching, stating that Raducanu needs to find the right fit and stick with it for a long period. Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, also advised Raducanu to carefully choose her next coach and give them time to make a positive impact. Navratilova suggested that Raducanu should focus on finding a coach she can trust and work with for at least a year, allowing her to become comfortable with the changes and incorporate the coach's input into her game. Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman believes that Raducanu should prioritize working on her physicality to match the level of fellow Grand Slam champions like Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff. Henman thinks that Raducanu needs to build her physical resilience to avoid injuries and improve her overall performance on the court. With her next tournament in Romania approaching, Raducanu will look to regain her form and make a strong comeback. Raducanu is currently ranked 28th in the world but has the potential to break into the top 10 with the right coaching and training.