Emma Raducanu has once again linked up with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the 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 faced intense scrutiny after parting ways with Richardson following her meteoric victory in New York, but recent reports confirm that the pair spent several days training together last week at the Ferrer Tennis Academy near Alicante, Spain, where Richardson is based. While the collaboration appears to be limited to a short‑term training stint and there are no immediate plans for a full‑time partnership during the Italian Open or beyond, the reunion has generated considerable buzz among fans and commentators alike. Raducanu's last competitive appearance came at Indian Wells, where she was dispatched in a 52‑minute match, winning only two games against Amanda Anisimova.
After that loss, she withdrew from the WTA events in Miami and Linz to focus on recovery from lingering post‑viral symptoms that followed an illness she contracted during a February trip to Romania. The health concerns also forced her to sit out Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Australia and skip the Madrid Open, as she continues to rebuild her fitness levels. Following her split with longtime coach Francisco Roig after a second‑round defeat at the Australian Open, Raducanu had been working on an informal basis with former British player and hitting partner Alexis Canter, as well as receiving occasional tactical input from Mark Petchey.
Canter, a 27‑year‑old who reached a career‑high ranking of 779 in 2022, has remained a steady presence in her training routine, while Petchey, known for his work with Andy Murray, offered strategic guidance during the Indian Wells event. The decision to bring Richardson back into the fold appears to be a strategic move aimed at recapturing some of the confidence and tactical clarity that propelled Raducanu to become the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title.
Richardson, who also coached Raducanu during her junior years, had expressed a desire to continue the partnership after the US Open, but Raducanu opted to hire Torben Beltz, a more experienced tour coach, instead. That choice marked the beginning of a series of brief coaching arrangements that have characterized much of her professional career.
Although it remains uncertain whether Raducanu will actually compete in the Italian Open, which begins on May 5, she has returned to full training and was seen practicing on the courts at Rome's Foro Italico alongside coach Jane O'Donoghue on Saturday. The sight of the British star back on clay has been welcomed as a morale boost for British tennis, especially given that rising star Jack Draper will miss the remainder of the clay season due to a knee injury.
Analysts have weighed in on Raducanu's coaching situation. Former world No.4 and Wimbledon semi‑finalist Tim Henman, speaking to Sky Sports in February, suggested that the young player might benefit more from focusing on her physical development rather than seeking a permanent coach.
He noted that while Raducanu possesses an outstanding tennis skill set, she currently lags behind the physical benchmarks set by contemporaries such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff. Henman emphasized that building strength, resilience, and power could reduce the frequency of injuries and enable her to sustain a higher level of performance over longer periods. Raducanu's coaching carousel has included a number of notable figures. Nigel Sears, who previously worked with Amanda Coetzer and Daniela Hantuchova, joined her team in April 2021 and helped her reach the Wimbledon fourth round.
Torben Beltz, best known for coaching Angelique Kerber, lasted only five months before parting ways in April 2022. Dmitry Tursunov was tried out in the summer of 2022 but declined a longer commitment after citing concerns about the overall camp environment.
Sebastian Sachs, a German coach, entered the picture in late 2022 but the partnership ended when Raducanu required multiple surgeries. Nick Cavaday oversaw her longest professional stint, a 14‑month period that saw her climb back into the top 60 before he stepped down in early 2025 for health reasons. More recently, Vlado Platenik was hired on a trial basis in March 2025, but the arrangement lasted only two weeks.
Mark Petchey, a former coach of Andy Murray, provided tactical insight during Wimbledon, where Raducanu ultimately fell to world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Sky Sports' lead commentator Jonathan Overend highlighted the broader challenge Raducanu faces: finding the right balance between coaching input, personal development and physical preparation. He observed that her frequent re‑evaluation of coaching relationships reflects a desire to discover the optimal environment for her growth, even if that process has attracted criticism from some quarters. Overend believes that while Grand Slam results have been elusive since her US Open win, the ongoing self‑assessment could eventually lead to a more stable and effective support team.
Looking ahead, Raducanu's immediate priority is to regain match fitness and confidence on clay, a surface that demands patience, endurance, and a strategic point construction different from the hard courts where she achieved her breakthrough. The reunion with Richardson, even if brief, may provide a psychological lift and a reminder of the tactical blueprint that once propelled her to the pinnacle of the sport. As she continues her rehabilitation and refines her physical conditioning, the tennis world will be watching closely to see whether the former US Open champion can translate her raw talent into consistent results on the European clay circuit and beyond.