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 start of the clay‑court swing at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. The British No.1, who faced intense scrutiny after parting ways with Richardson following her sensational New York victory, spent last week training at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, Spain, where Richardson is based. While the reunion appears to be a short‑term training stint rather than a full‑time partnership for the clay season, it signals a willingness to revisit a successful collaboration as Raducanu works to regain full fitness. The 23‑year‑old’s last competitive appearance was at Indian Wells, where she was beaten in 52 minutes by Amanda Anisimova, managing only two games.
A lingering post‑viral illness that she contracted in Romania in early February forced her to withdraw from the Miami Open, the Linz event, and even the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier for Great Britain against Australia. Those health setbacks also kept her out of the Madrid Open, underscoring the importance of a careful, measured return to the tour. After a brief, turbulent spell with former coach Francisco Roig – a partnership that dissolved following a second‑round loss at the Australian Open – Raducanu had been working informally with Mark Petchey and relying heavily on hitting partner Alexis Canter, a 27‑year‑old British ex‑player who peaked at world No. 779.
Canter remains a fixture in her day‑to‑day routine, and Petchey continues to provide tactical input, but the decision to bring Richardson back into the fold adds a familiar voice that helped shape her breakthrough. Richardson, who also coached Raducanu during her junior years, revealed in a 2023 interview with the Daily Mail that he had hoped to extend their short‑term partnership beyond the US Open. Instead, Raducanu opted for Torben Beltz, a more seasoned tour coach, a move that began a pattern of brief coaching experiments that has become a hallmark of her career. The latest reunion with Richardson is therefore noteworthy, especially as the WTA 1000 event in Rome looms on May 5.
Raducanu’s preparation in Rome has already included on‑court sessions with fellow British coach Jane O'Donoghue at the historic Foro Italico. Though it remains uncertain whether she will actually enter the main draw, the fact that she is back on the training hard‑courts and clay courts alike is a positive sign for British tennis, which has been dealing with its own setbacks – most prominently Jack Draper’s knee injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the clay season. Commentators have offered mixed opinions on whether Raducanu truly needs a full‑time coach at this stage. Former Wimbledon semi‑finalist and Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman suggested in February that the British star might benefit more from focusing on her physical development than on adding another coach to her team.
He compared her current physical profile to that of Grand Slam winners such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, noting that while her tennis skills are elite, her conditioning still lags behind the sport’s new power standards. "She needs to get stronger, more resilient, and hit the ball harder," Henman said, emphasizing that a stronger physical base could reduce injury‑related interruptions and allow her to sustain a higher level of play for longer periods. Petchey’s influence should not be underestimated.
He was instrumental during Raducanu’s most productive stretch of the 2023 season, helping her reach the quarter‑finals at Queen’s and push Sabalenka to the brink in the third round at Wimbledon. That tactical guidance, combined with Richardson’s strategic insight from their US Open run, could give her a more rounded preparation for the demanding red‑clay of Rome. Raducanu’s coaching carousel has been extensive. Nigel Sears, known for working with former top‑five players, joined her team in April 2021 and oversaw her breakthrough Wimbledon run to the fourth round.
After Richardson’s short‑term contract ended, Torben Beltz, who previously coached Angelique Kerber, lasted only five months before their split in April 2022. Subsequent trial periods with Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vlado Platenik, and finally Mark Petchey have each ended for a variety of reasons ranging from health concerns to strategic disagreements. Most recently, Francisco Roig – a former aide to Rafael Nadal – was appointed in August 2025 but the partnership dissolved after Raducanu’s Australian Open exit in January 2026. Sky Sports’ lead commentator Jonathan Overend summed up the ongoing dilemma: Raducanu is still searching for the right balance between coaching input, personal identity, and physical preparation.
"She has spent a lot of her young career re‑evaluating, which explains why she has been through so many coaches," Overend observed. "The challenge is finding the right equilibrium, not just in terms of Grand Slam results but in the process of self‑discovery on and off the court." As the Italian Open approaches, Raducanu’s primary goal appears to be gaining match fitness and confidence rather than chasing immediate results. The reunion with Richardson, even if brief, offers a psychological boost and a reminder of what she is capable of when the right support system is in place. If she can combine that mental edge with the physical upgrades advocated by Henman and the tactical sharpening from Petchey, she may well emerge from Rome not just as a participant but as a genuine contender, ready to re‑establish herself among the sport’s elite.
The broader British tennis community is watching closely. With Draper sidelined, Raducanu’s potential success could provide a much‑needed morale lift. Moreover, her willingness to experiment with coaching arrangements reflects a broader trend in modern tennis, where players increasingly tailor their support teams to suit evolving needs rather than relying on long‑term, static relationships.
In summary, Emma Raducanu’s return to training with Andrew Richardson marks a strategic attempt to blend familiarity with fresh preparation ahead of the Rome Masters. While the partnership may be short‑lived, it underscores her ongoing quest for consistency, physical robustness, and tactical clarity – the three pillars that will determine whether she can translate her historic US Open triumph into sustained success on the WTA tour.