Jack Draper and new coach Jamie Delgado are ‘aligned’ whereas Emma Raducanu now has a ‘constant voice’

In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Laura Robson discusses Jack Draper splitting from coach James Trotman and bringing Jamie Delgado on board, and why having a constant voice will allow Emma Raducanu to maneuver in an upward trajectory in 2026…

Draper cut up from long-time coach Trotman having employed Andy Murray’s former coach Delgado.

Trotman took over as Draper’s lead coach in late 2021 having labored with him by way of his position on the Garden Tennis Affiliation.

Beneath Trotman, Draper gained three ATP Tour titles, together with the Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells in March, whereas he made his main Grand Slam breakthrough by reaching the semi-finals of the US Open final summer season in addition to reaching a a excessive of fourth within the rankings in June.

Delgado’s three-year partnership with Grigor Dimitrov got here to an finish in September, however he’s greatest recognized for his work with Andy Murray, serving to the Scot win a second Wimbledon title and finish 2016 as world No 1.

“I’ve spent a bit of time with Trots [Trotman] on and off at tournaments this year, and he was just kind of tired of all the travel, which you can absolutely understand. When I see it written as like they’ve split up, I don’t almost see it that way. It’s more like a mutual agreement. It was time for Trots to take a bit of time off and be with his family at home,” mentioned Robson.

“I think it’s perfect because Trots knows Delgy [Delgado] incredibly well. Jack knows Delgy incredibly well. And so I’m sure that they were aligned on most things before they even started working together, which makes it easier when you have that transition in the off-season.

“It is prefer it’s not as if Jack’s had a nasty 12 months. I feel he is nonetheless in all probability going to complete prime 10, is not he? Sadly, he is had a few accidents, nevertheless it’s not prefer it’s been a damaging season actually. It is simply our expectations are fairly excessive after Indian Wells. I feel he’d have a very good season irrespective of who he was with subsequent 12 months.”

Draper will make his return to competitors in entrance of his house crowd on the UTS London, going down from 5-7 December on the Copper Field Area. The 23-year-old British No 1 has obtained a wildcard for the season-ending occasion.

Robson: It’s going to assist Raducanu to have that constant voice

Raducanu introduced an early finish to her season following bodily struggles in China after which saying a take care of the skilled Spaniard Francisco Roig to proceed their work collectively in 2026.

She’s going to hyperlink up with Roig, the long-time former coach of Rafael Nadal who she started working with in August, for a pre-season coaching block earlier than aiming to seal a top-32 seeding on the Australian Open.

“Raducanu was able to play week in, week out for the most part and lost a few close matches towards the end of the season. But overall, we’re ending 2024 just saying that she needs to be able to stay healthy and for the most part, she’s done that. That’s definitely been a key for her to rise up the rankings because I think we always knew that the level was there,” mentioned Robson, a former British No 1.

“It’s kind of like Jack. I think no matter who she’s working with, she’s always going to have the level and the talent. But I think at this point in her career, it helps to have that consistent voice. So just the fact they’re getting on really well and have the same kind of ideas for her game.

“From what I’ve seen on the apply courts, it is like they’re gelling with the communication half. Then she’s going to have hopefully one other nice 12 months. However once more, we simply hope that she stays wholesome, that is at all times the important thing.”

Raducanu and Draper are set to group up for Nice Britain for the 2026 United Cup from 2-11 January.

‘Kartal is doing all the appropriate issues on and off the court docket’

Sonay Kartal is a participant who has loved a profitable season following a strong run at Wimbledon after which reaching the quarter-finals of the China Open which noticed a rankings climb. She’s presently as much as world No 71 and has overtaken Katie Boulter as British No 2.

Robson mentioned: “I’m so happy for Sonay. She’s such a hard worker, has got the most persistent attitude, like in the best way. She just wants to get out there and play as many matches as possible and make sure she’s doing all the right things on and off the court.

“So to see somebody like that rewarded and to see her have so many milestones is simply superb. I hope that it continues.

“She’s probably thinking about the training weeks that she wants to put in during the off-season to make sure that she’s ready for next year. I think Sonay can back it up for sure.”

What’s the United Cup?

The United Cup is a world mixed-team occasion going down in Perth and Sydney, Australia, to kick-start the season.

Groups qualify for the United Cup primarily based on the mixed rating of their prime males’s and girls’s singles participant.

18 nations are set to compete in 2026, every group consisting of three ladies’s and three males’s gamers.

The event begins with a round-robin group stage earlier than progressing to the knock-out rounds. Every tie includes two singles (one males’s and one ladies’s) and a blended doubles match.

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