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 that begins with 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 part of last week training at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, where Richardson is based.
While the reunion appears to be a short‑term arrangement designed to sharpen her preparation for the Italian Open, there are currently no indications that the pair will continue together throughout the rest of the clay season or beyond. Raducanu’s most recent competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was overwhelmed by Amanda Anisimova, managing only two games in a 52‑minute defeat. Since then, she has withdrawn from several WTA events, including the Miami Open and the tournament in Linz, to focus on recovering from lingering post‑viral symptoms that emerged after an illness she contracted in Romania earlier this 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 works to regain full fitness. After a brief and ultimately unsuccessful partnership with Spanish coach Francisco Roig, which ended following a second‑round loss at the Australian Open, Raducanu had been operating on a more informal basis with former British player Mark Petchey. She also relied heavily on hitting partner Alexis Canter, a 27‑year‑old Briton who reached a career‑high ranking of 779 in 2022. Canter remains part of her day‑to‑day routine, providing consistent practice sessions while Petchey contributes tactical insights.
The decision to bring Richardson back into the fold is significant because he was the architect of Raducanu’s unprecedented achievement at Flushing Meadows, 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 extend their collaboration beyond the US Open, but Raducanu opted to bring in Torben Beltz, a more seasoned tour coach, instead.
That choice marked the beginning of a series of brief coaching stints that have characterized much of her professional journey. Although it remains uncertain whether Raducanu will actually compete in the Italian Open, which kicks off on May 5, she has already returned to the Foro Italico for on‑court work alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue. Her presence on the practice courts is viewed as a morale boost for British tennis, especially as fellow countryman Jack Draper will miss the remainder of the clay season due to a knee injury. Commentators have offered mixed opinions on whether a coach is essential for Raducanu at this stage.
Former Wimbledon semi‑finalist Tim Henman, speaking on Sky Sports in February, suggested that the British star might benefit more from concentrating on her physical development rather than adding another full‑time coach to her roster. He praised Mark Petchey’s contributions but noted that Petchey’s broadcasting commitments limit his availability. Henman emphasized that building strength, resilience, and power could help Raducanu reduce the frequency of injuries and sustain a higher level of play over longer stretches, drawing comparisons to the physical profiles of current Grand Slam champions such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff. Raducanu’s coaching carousel over the past few years reads like a timeline of short‑lived experiments.
After Richardson’s initial departure, she briefly teamed up with Torben Beltz, then with former German champion Angelique Kerber’s coach, before moving on to a trial with Dmitry Tursunov in the summer of 2022. Subsequent collaborations with Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vlado Platenik and finally Mark Petchey each ended for various reasons ranging from injuries to personal health concerns. Most recently, she hired Francisco Roig, a former Rafael Nadal mentor, in August 2025, only to part ways after a disappointing Australian Open showing in January 2026.
Sky Sports’ lead commentator Jonathan Overend summed up the ongoing challenge: Raducanu has spent much of her early career reevaluating her support team, which explains the frequent changes and the criticism she endures. He believes that the key to her future success lies in finding a stable balance between coaching, physical preparation, and personal identity on court. Overend notes that while Raducanu’s results have not yet mirrored her 2021 breakthrough, the process of self‑assessment may eventually lead her to a setup that maximizes her natural aggressive style while addressing the physical gaps that have limited her consistency. As the Rome tournament approaches, all eyes will be on whether the brief reunion with Andrew Richardson can provide the spark Raducanu needs to re‑establish herself among the sport’s elite.
The combination of renewed tactical guidance, a familiar coaching voice, and a renewed focus on conditioning could prove decisive as she aims to translate her raw talent into sustained performance on the demanding clay of the Italian Open.