What does Emma Raducanu really need on a tennis courtroom?
That was the query requested by Sky Sports activities’ commentator Jonathan Overend within the aftermath of Raducanu’s Australian Open exit, which be consider highlighted “confusion” within the camp of the “shackled” British No 1.
The interval by final spring and summer time, when Raducanu was with no everlasting coach however working with former British No 1 Mark Petchey, provided actual promise.
After Wimbledon, the previous US Open champion turned to Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig following a trial in July, nevertheless it appears she has taken one thing of a step again.
The world No 29 was a doubt for the Australian Open after a foot downside all through pre-season left her taking part in catch-up, solely returning to the courtroom in late December.
She regarded wanting match sharpness in a conflict with Maria Sakkari on the United Cup, whereas she beat Camila Osorio within the opening spherical in Hobart however then misplaced to world No 204 Taylah Preston.
In Melbourne, Raducanu stated she was able to re-evaluate her recreation after her second-round exit to Anastasia Potapova on Wednesday.
“As so often, there’s a lot of reading between the lines to do when you assess Raducanu’s post-match and post-Australian Open comments. The one that jumps out to me is ‘re-evaluate,'” stated Overend.
“I think she has spent a lot of her young career re-evaluating. In one regard, it explains why she has been through so many coaches and why she has been criticised for it.
“It is typical of the Raducanu that wishes to maintain re-evaluating and discovering out what’s greatest for her on and round a tennis courtroom. That problem continues, and to some extent it’s a battle, as a result of discovering the best stability is so onerous, however I feel she is slowly getting [it], not by way of her Grand Slam outcomes however by way of that re-evaluation course of.
“What is it she really wants for herself on a tennis court and in tournaments?”
Is Raducanu feeling shackled?
Francis Roig has been working with Raducanu since Wimbledon
Overend questioned whether or not Raducanu’s begin to the season was symptomatic of an overloaded participant beneath new tuition wanting to interrupt free.
“When reading between the lines, it sounds to me like there is confusion – confusion which can often come from coaches,” he added.
“This isn’t being critical of Roig; he’s done a lot of good work with Raducanu, that much is evident. But the harsh reality of the player‑coach relationship is that the player is the boss – the employer.
“In some circumstances, the coach wants the job; in some circumstances, the coach needs the job; and in different circumstances, the coach neither wants nor needs the job however is in it anyway.
“There is always strategic, tactical, and technical advice a coach can offer because they are experienced and have a certain degree of success. But what is success when it comes to tennis coaching? It is a great unknown.
“How would a participant have gotten on with out the enter of a sure coach? Would they’ve been pretty much as good? May they’ve been higher?
“It sounds to me like Raducanu is feeling shackled, feeling like she needs to be freer and, ultimately, needs to be her own boss.”
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Martina Navratilova solutions the Sky Sports activities viewers’ questions, together with how Raducanu may play along with her new coach…
There was lots of consideration on Raducanu’s coaches throughout her profession after a number of modifications over the past 4 years.
Her first skilled coach Nigel Sears left after she reached the fourth spherical of Wimbledon in 2021, earlier than she selected to not prolong her contract with Andrew Richardson, who helped the then 18-year-old to a memorable US Open title.
Torben Beltz had a brief spell as her coach between November 2021 and April 2022, earlier than being changed by Dimitri Tursunov, who warned of “red flags” if Raducanu continued to hearken to too many voices.
Sebastian Sachs lasted simply the primary half of 2023 as Raducanu’s coach earlier than reuniting with Nick Cavaday, who mentored her as a junior final 12 months.
Nonetheless, Cavaday stepped again initially of this season in January for well being causes however labored with Raducanu once more in the course of the grass-court season, alongside Petchey.
Raducanu performed a few of her greatest tennis beneath Petchey, whose tv commitments meant he was at all times unable to turn out to be a full-time coach earlier than she turned to Roig.
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Have a look again at Raducanu’s unbelievable win on the 2021 US Open
“I’m not suggesting she should go it alone or sack Roig, but when you think of some of Raducanu’s best moments in recent years, it’s when she’s smiling and enjoying herself on the practice and match courts, when she’s feeling free and ambitious,” Overend stated.
“You want her to feel that more often. If she is feeling restricted by the extra variety she’s bringing into her game because of technical tweaking and experimentation, and it’s making her not enjoy her tennis, it’s a bad thing.
“Her remark about having fun with hitting the ball onerous and quick into the corners – how she received the US Open. I would say go for it, Emma, get pleasure from it. If that is the a part of the sport you’re keen on, do extra of it.”
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