Emma Raducanu has rejoined forces with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 2021 US Open triumph, as she gears up for the clay‑court swing beginning with the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. The British No.1 faced a wave of criticism after she split from Richardson following her meteoric victory in New York, but recent reports confirm that the pair spent several days training together at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, where Richardson is based.
While there are currently no firm plans for a long‑term partnership throughout the clay season, the reunion signals a willingness to explore familiar chemistry ahead of the WTA 1000 event in Rome, which kicks off on May 5. Raducanu’s last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was routed 6‑1, 6‑0 by Amanda Anisimova in just 52 minutes, managing to win only two games.
She subsequently withdrew from the Miami Open and the Linz tournament to focus on recovery from lingering post‑viral symptoms that followed an illness contracted in Romania in early February. The 23‑year‑old also opted out of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia and chose to miss the Madrid Open, emphasizing that her priority is regaining full fitness before committing to a full schedule. After parting ways with her most recent coach, Francisco Roig, in the wake of a second‑round loss at the Australian Open, Raducanu had been working informally 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 last season.
Canter remains a fixture in her training camp, providing daily practice sessions while Petchey offers tactical input on a part‑time basis. The decision to bring Richardson back into the fold is notable because he was the architect of Raducanu’s historic US Open run, where she became the first qualifier ever to capture a Grand Slam title.
In a 2023 interview with the Daily Mail, Richardson revealed that he had hoped to continue a short‑term partnership after the New York triumph, but Raducanu chose to hire Torben Beltz, a more seasoned tour coach, instead. That move began a pattern of brief coaching stints that has characterized much of her professional career. Although it remains uncertain whether Raducanu will actually compete in the Italian Open, she has already resumed on‑court work at the Foro Italico, practicing alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue on Saturday. Her return to training is seen as a positive sign for British tennis, especially as fellow Briton Jack Draper is sidelined for the remainder of the clay season with a knee injury.
Commentators have weighed in on the coaching debate. Former British champion Tim Henman, speaking in February, suggested that Raducanu might benefit more from focusing on her physical development rather than adding another full‑time coach. He compared her athletic profile to that of current Grand Slam winners such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, noting that while Raducanu’s tennis skills are exceptional, her physical conditioning lags behind these peers.
Henman emphasized the need for greater strength, resilience, and power to reduce injury interruptions and sustain high‑level performance over longer periods. Petchey’s influence was evident during one of Raducanu’s most productive stretches, when she reached the quarter‑finals at Queen’s and pushed Sabalenka to a tight third‑round match at Wimbledon. Over the years, Raducanu has worked with a rotating roster of coaches, each bringing a different perspective: - Nigel Sears, known for guiding former top‑five players, joined her team in April 2021 and oversaw her breakthrough run to the Wimbledon fourth round.
- Torben Beltz, Angelique Kerber’s former coach, lasted only five months before they split in April 2022. - Dmitry Tursunov was tried out in the summer of 2022 but declined a long‑term role, citing concerns about the camp’s environment.
- Sebastian Sachs entered the picture in late 2022, but the partnership ended after Raducanu required multiple surgeries. - Nick Cavaday provided her longest professional partnership, helping her climb back into the top 60 before stepping down in early 2025 for health reasons.
- Vlado Platenik was hired on a trial basis in March 2025, a stint that lasted a mere 14 days. - Mark Petchey, formerly Andy Murray’s coach, supplied crucial tactical insights during Wimbledon, where Raducanu eventually fell to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
- Francisco Roig, a former mentor to Rafael Nadal, was appointed in August 2025 but the duo split after her Australian Open exit in January 2026. Sky Sports’ lead commentator Jonathan Overend summed up the ongoing challenge: Raducanu has spent much of her early career re‑evaluating her coaching situation, which explains the frequent changes and the criticism that follows. He believes that the key to unlocking her potential lies in finding a stable balance that aligns with her personal goals on and off the court.
As the clay season approaches, the tennis world will be watching to see whether the familiar partnership with Richardson can provide the tactical clarity and confidence needed for Raducanu to rediscover the form that made her a US Open champion. Regardless of the outcome, her willingness to experiment with different coaching arrangements underscores a broader trend in modern tennis: players are increasingly taking ownership of their development, seeking the right mix of technical guidance, physical preparation, and mental resilience to compete at the highest level.