Emma Raducanu has once again linked up with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to her historic US Open triumph in 2021, as she gears up for the clay‑court swing beginning with the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. The British No.1 had attracted considerable criticism after she split from Richardson following her sensational New York victory, a decision many observers felt was premature given the success they had achieved together.
According to sources close to the player, Raducanu spent part of last week training at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, Spain, where Richardson is based. The two worked on a short, informal program aimed at sharpening her baseline consistency and improving her movement on slower surfaces.
While the reunion appears to be limited to a few sessions, it signals a willingness on Raducanu’s part to revisit a partnership that produced one of the most remarkable Grand Slam stories in recent memory. Raducanu’s last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was dispatched in 52 minutes by Amanda Anisimova after managing just two games. The loss was followed by a series of withdrawals: she pulled out of the WTA events in Miami and Linz to focus on recovery from lingering post‑viral symptoms that stemmed from an illness she contracted in Romania in early February.
The health setback also forced her to sit out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Australia and the Madrid Open, underscoring the importance of a measured return to full fitness. Since parting ways with her most recent coach, Francisco Roig, after a second‑round exit at the Australian Open, Raducanu had been working on an informal basis with former British player Mark Petchey and relying heavily on hitting partner Alexis Canter, a 27‑year‑old who reached a career‑high ranking of 779. Canter has remained a steady presence in her training routine, providing daily ball work and helping her regain confidence on court. The decision to bring Richardson back into the fold ahead of the Italian Open, which kicks off on Tuesday, May 5, appears to be a strategic move aimed at recapturing the mental and tactical clarity that propelled her to the US Open title.
Richardson, who also coached Raducanu during her junior years, had expressed in a 2023 interview with the Daily Mail that he was eager to continue their collaboration after the Grand Slam win. At the time, Raducanu opted for a more seasoned tour coach in Torben Beltz, a pattern that would repeat itself throughout her career as she cycled through a succession of short‑term appointments. The Italian Open will be a crucial test for the 23‑year‑old, not only because it marks her first appearance on clay since the injury‑laden winter but also because it offers a platform to gauge her progress against the world’s elite.
She practiced at the historic Foro Italico on Saturday alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue, a former British player who has been assisting with tactical drills. Although it remains uncertain whether she will actually step onto the main draw, the training sessions have been described as “encouraging” by members of her team. Raducanu’s situation has broader implications for British tennis.
With rising star Jack Draper sidelined for the remainder of the clay season due to a knee injury, the spotlight falls even more heavily on Emma to deliver a strong performance and inspire the next generation. Former British champion Tim Henman, now a Sky Sports analyst, has repeatedly suggested that Raducanu might benefit from focusing on her physical development rather than seeking a permanent coaching figure. In a February interview, Henman argued that to compete consistently with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, she needs to build greater strength, resilience and power. "Emma has talked about owning her identity and her game style," Henman noted.
"She’s been on tour long enough to know what works for her, and perhaps a less conventional approach—leaning on a trusted hitting partner and a few targeted coaching inputs—could be the right formula." Petchey’s influence should not be underestimated. He helped Raducanu reach the quarter‑finals at Queen’s and produced a memorable third‑round Wimbledon performance where she pushed Sabalenka to the brink. That experience, combined with Richardson’s tactical acumen, could provide a balanced blend of mental toughness and strategic nuance as she navigates the demanding transition from hard courts to the slower, more demanding red clay. Raducanu’s coaching carousel over the past few years reads like a roster of notable names: Nigel Sears, who guided her to the Wimbledon fourth round in 2021; Torben Beltz, former coach of Angelique Kerber; Dmitry Tursunov, who left after a brief trial; Sebastian Sachs, whose partnership ended amid multiple surgeries; and most recently Francisco Roig, a former Rafael Nadal mentor.
Each stint has been relatively short, reflecting both Raducanu’s search for the optimal support system and the challenges of maintaining continuity amid health setbacks. Jonathan Overend, Sky Sports’ lead tennis commentator, summed up the ongoing dilemma: "Emma has spent much of her young career re‑evaluating her setup. That explains the frequent coaching changes and the criticism that follows.
The real question now is what she truly wants for herself on the court and how she can find a sustainable balance between technical guidance and personal autonomy." As the Rome tournament approaches, all eyes will be on whether the brief reunion with Richardson can spark a resurgence in form, and whether Raducanu can translate her renewed confidence into results on a surface that demands patience, endurance, and strategic point construction. If she can stay healthy, blend the tactical insights of her past mentors with a renewed focus on physical conditioning, and maintain the mental composure that made her a US Open champion, Emma Raducanu could well emerge as a compelling storyline in the clay‑court season and beyond.