Emma Raducanu has once again linked up with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 2021 US Open triumph, 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 faced harsh criticism after she split from Richardson following her sensational 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 no firm plans for a long‑term partnership throughout the clay season, the reunion signals that Raducanu is seeking familiar guidance as she works to rebuild her game after a turbulent period. The last time Raducanu stepped onto a court in competition was at Indian Wells, where she suffered a swift 52‑minute loss to Amanda Anisimova, winning just two games. She subsequently withdrew from the WTA events in Miami and Linz, choosing to focus on recovering from lingering post‑viral symptoms that followed an illness she contracted in Romania in early February.
Those health concerns also forced her to sit out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia and the Madrid Open, as she continues to chase full fitness. After parting ways with her most recent coach, Francisco Roig, in the wake of a second‑round defeat 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 key part of her daily routine, providing consistent practice sessions while Petchey offers tactical input during tournaments.
Now, with Richardson back in the picture, the British star is adding a familiar voice to her support team ahead of the WTA 1000 event in Rome, which kicks off on Tuesday, May 5. Richardson, who also coached Raducanu during her junior years, has said in past interviews that he was eager to extend their short‑term partnership after the US Open win. Instead, Raducanu opted to hire Torben Beltz, a more experienced tour coach, a decision that marked the beginning of a series of brief coaching stints that have characterized her career. The exact nature of the current collaboration remains unclear.
Sources indicate that the training session in Spain was primarily a warm‑up exercise rather than a formal re‑engagement, and there are no immediate plans for Richardson to travel with her to Rome. Nevertheless, the mere fact that they have been seen together on court has been welcomed by British tennis fans, especially as compatriot Jack Draper is sidelined for the rest of the clay season with a knee injury. Analysts have weighed in on Raducanu’s coaching situation.
Former world No.4 and Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman suggested in February that the young Brit might benefit more from focusing on her physical development than from adding another coach to her roster. He compared her physicality to that of current Grand Slam champions such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, noting that while Raducanu’s tennis skills are outstanding, she still lags behind in terms of strength, endurance and power.
Henman explained, "Emma has talked about her identity and the style she wants to own. She’s been on tour long enough to know what works for her, and perhaps the best option is to concentrate on building her physical base.
An aggressive game style is essential, but it must be backed by the stamina to sustain long rallies on clay." He added that a stronger physical foundation could reduce the frequency of injuries and setbacks, allowing Raducanu to compete at a high level for longer stretches. Petchey’s influence should not be overlooked.
He helped spark a productive phase of Raducanu’s season, culminating in a quarter‑final run at Queen’s and a tightly contested third‑round match against Sabalenka at Wimbledon. That experience, combined with the tactical insights from Richardson, could give her a more rounded preparation for the challenges of the red clay in Rome.
Raducanu’s coaching carousel over the past few years reads like a timeline of short‑term experiments. After the US Open, she briefly worked with Torben Beltz, then with former German champion Angelique Kerber’s coach, before moving on to former Russian player Dmitry Tursunov on a trial basis in the summer of 2022. Tursunov eventually stepped away, citing concerns about the camp’s structure. Subsequent partnerships with Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vlado Platenik, and most recently Mark Petchey and Francisco Roig, each lasted only a few months, often ending due to injuries, personal health issues, or strategic disagreements.
Commentators such as Sky Sports lead tennis commentator Jonathan Overend have observed that Raducanu’s frequent re‑evaluations may be both a strength and a weakness. Overend said, "She has spent a lot of her young career re‑evaluating her setup, which explains the revolving door of coaches. The challenge now is finding the right balance – not just in terms of Grand Slam results, but in creating a stable environment where she can continue to grow." Looking ahead to the Italian Open, Raducanu appears optimistic. After returning to training, she was seen practicing alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue at the historic Foro Italico courts on Saturday.
While it remains uncertain whether she will officially enter the main draw, the training sessions suggest she is aiming to test her clay‑court readiness and perhaps secure a wildcard entry. In summary, Emma Raducanu’s decision to reunite, even briefly, with Andrew Richardson signals a desire to draw on familiar expertise as she navigates a demanding comeback.
Coupled with ongoing work on her physical conditioning, a stable hitting partnership with Alexis Canter, and tactical input from Mark Petchey, she is assembling a multifaceted support team. Whether this blend will translate into a deep run in Rome remains to be seen, but the British media and fans are hopeful that the combination of experience, renewed confidence, and improved fitness will help her rediscover the form that made her a historic US Open champion.