Emma Raducanu has re‑entered the training camp of Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 2021 US Open triumph, as she gears up for the clay‑court swing that kicks off at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. The British No.1 had faced a wave of criticism after parting ways with Richardson following her sensational New York victory, but recent reports confirm that the two have been back together, at least on a short‑term basis, to fine‑tune her game ahead of the Italian Open.
According to Raducanu's team, the pair spent several days last week at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, Spain, where Richardson is based. While the reunion appears to be limited to the immediate pre‑Rome period, sources say there are no firm plans for a longer‑term partnership throughout the clay season or beyond. The move, however, has been welcomed by many observers who see Richardson’s intimate knowledge of Raducanu’s strengths and weaknesses as a valuable asset as she attempts to rebuild momentum after a difficult stretch. The 23‑year‑old’s last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was overwhelmed by Amanda Anisimova, losing 6‑0, 6‑0 in just 52 minutes.
That defeat was followed by a string of withdrawals – she pulled out of the WTA events in Miami and Linz, citing a need to focus on rehabilitation from lingering post‑viral symptoms that emerged after an illness contracted in Romania in early February. Raducanu also sat out Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Australia and skipped the Madrid Open, opting instead to prioritize a full recovery of her physical condition. After a brief and turbulent spell with former coach Francisco Roig – a split that followed 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 last season.
Canter remains part of her support team, and Petchey continued to provide tactical input during the Indian Wells fortnight. Now, with Richardson back in the picture, the focus shifts to the upcoming WTA 1000 event in Rome, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 5 May.
Richardson, who also coached Raducanu during her junior years, has spoken publicly about his desire to continue the partnership after the US Open triumph, but Raducanu chose to bring in Torben Beltz – a more seasoned tour coach – instead. That decision marked the start of a series of short‑lived coaching arrangements that have characterized much of her professional career. It remains uncertain whether Raducanu will actually compete in the Italian Open, but her recent return to training at the Foro Italico, where she practiced alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue on Saturday, suggests she is eager to test her readiness on clay.
The news of her reunion with Richardson has been hailed as a positive development for British tennis, especially as fellow rising star Jack Draper is sidelined for the rest of the clay season with a knee injury. Commentators have offered mixed advice on Raducanu’s coaching situation.
In February, former British number‑one Tim Henman told Sky Sports that the British player might be better served by focusing on her physical development rather than seeking a permanent coach. He highlighted the need for greater strength, resilience, and power to compete with the sport’s current powerhouses – Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff – noting that while Raducanu’s technique is superb, her physicality lags behind that elite group.
Henman also praised Mark Petchey for helping Raducanu reach a productive phase of the season, including a quarter‑final appearance at Queen’s Club and a hard‑fought three‑set loss to Sabalenka in the third round at Wimbledon. Yet the former champion emphasized that consistency and continuity in coaching are rare in Raducanu’s career, pointing to a long list of brief collaborations: Nigel Sears (who guided her to the Wimbledon fourth round in 2021), Torben Beltz (who departed after five months), Dmitry Tursunov (who left after a short trial in summer 2022), Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vlado Platenik, and most recently Francisco Roig, who exited after the Australian Open in January 2026. Jonathan Overend, Sky Sports’ lead tennis commentator, summed up the ongoing dilemma, saying that Raducanu’s constant re‑evaluation of her support team reflects both her ambition and the difficulty of finding a stable balance.
He noted that while her Grand Slam results have not yet returned to the heights of 2021, the process of self‑assessment may eventually lead her to a setup that maximizes her potential. As the Italian Open looms, all eyes will be on whether the brief reunion with Richardson can provide the tactical clarity and confidence she needs on the slower surface. If she does step onto the Rome courts, it will be an opportunity to test a new chapter in her career – one that blends the familiarity of her US Open coach with the hard‑earned lessons of a turbulent two‑year journey.
The outcome could shape the next phase of her comeback, offering a glimpse of whether a more stable coaching relationship, enhanced physical conditioning, and renewed mental focus can finally bring Emma Raducanu back to the upper echelons of women’s tennis.