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 had attracted considerable criticism after she and Richardson went their separate ways following her sensational victory in New York, a decision that many observers felt was premature given the magnitude of her achievement.
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 were seen working on drills and match simulations on the academy's hard courts, a setting that helped them recapture the chemistry that produced the 2021 Grand Slam win. While the reunion appears to be a short‑term arrangement aimed at smoothing her transition back onto the tour, there are currently no indications that the partnership will extend through the entire clay season or beyond. Raducanu's last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was defeated in a 52‑minute match by Amanda Anisimova, managing to win only two games.
Following that loss, she withdrew from the WTA events in Miami and Linz to focus on recovering from post‑viral fatigue that stemmed from an illness she contracted during a training trip to Romania in early February. The health setback also forced her to sit out Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia and to miss the Madrid Open, as she continues to rebuild her fitness levels. After parting ways with her most recent full‑time coach, Francisco Roig, in the wake of a second‑round exit at the Australian Open, Raducanu had been working on an informal basis with former British player Mark Petchey. In addition, she retained hitting partner Alexis Canter, a 27‑year‑old ex‑professional who reached a career‑high ranking of 779 last season.
Canter has remained a steady presence in her training routine, providing consistency while she experiments with different coaching inputs. The decision to bring Richardson back into the fold marks a notable shift, especially given the coach’s pivotal role in Raducanu's rise from a junior prospect to a Grand Slam champion.
Richardson, who also mentored her during her junior years, had expressed interest in continuing a short‑term partnership after the US Open, but Raducanu opted to hire Torben Beltz, a more experienced tour coach, instead. That move was the first in a series of brief coaching stints that have characterized her career to date.
Although it remains uncertain whether Raducanu will actually compete in the Italian Open, which kicks off on Tuesday, May 5, the fact that she has returned to the training ground at Rome's Foro Italico this past Saturday is a positive sign. She was seen practicing alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue, indicating that the player is taking a measured approach to her preparation, balancing the need for high‑quality coaching with the desire to avoid over‑committing. The development is also a morale boost for British tennis, which has been dealing with its own injury setbacks—most notably Jack Draper, who will miss the remainder of the clay season due to a knee problem. Raducanu's resurgence could help fill the void and keep British fans engaged during a period when homegrown talent is otherwise absent from the spotlight.
In February, former Wimbledon semi‑finalist Tim Henman, now a Sky Sports analyst, suggested that Raducanu might not need a full‑time coach at this stage, emphasizing the importance of physical development. He compared her conditioning to that of current Grand Slam winners such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, noting that while Raducanu's technical skills are elite, her physicality still lags behind the sport's top athletes. Henman argued that building strength, resilience and power would reduce the likelihood of injuries and allow her to sustain a higher level of play for longer stretches. Petchey, who helped Raducanu reach the quarter‑finals at Queen's and push Sabalenka to a tight third‑round match at Wimbledon, has also been praised for his tactical input.
Yet the constant turnover of coaches—ranging from Nigel Sears, who oversaw her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2021, to short‑lived collaborations with Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vlado Platenik, and most recently Francisco Roig—has left many questioning whether stability might be the missing ingredient. Jonathan Overend, Sky Sports' lead tennis commentator, summed up the situation by highlighting Raducanu's ongoing self‑evaluation. He noted that her willingness to constantly reassess her coaching situation reflects both a desire for perfection and the difficulty of finding a lasting partnership. Overend believes that the key to unlocking her full potential lies in answering a fundamental question about what she truly wants from her career and from the people who support her on court.
As the Rome tournament approaches, all eyes will be on whether the brief reunion with Richardson can provide the tactical clarity and confidence needed for Raducanu to make a deep run. If she can combine the strategic insights of her former US Open coach with the physical upgrades advocated by Henman, she may finally find the balance that has eluded her since her meteoric rise. For British tennis fans, and indeed for the wider tennis community, a successful comeback in Rome would not only signal a return to form for Raducan u but also serve as a compelling narrative of resilience, adaptation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.