Emma Raducanu has revealed that she will take her time before appointing a new coach. It comes after Nick Cavaday left her team following the Australian Open for personal health matters.
The British tennis star is working without a coach and believes she will learn a lot during the upcoming period. She believes she will have a better idea of what type of mentor would be best for her career.
Cavaday was the sixth coach of Raducanu’s career. Some critics believe the frequent changes have had an impact on her inconsistent form since her remarkable 2021 US Open triumph, although a succession of injuries have not helped either.
“It’s a decision that I want to take my time with,” Raducanu, the world No. 56, said. “I think that’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away, because I want to make sure it’s a right fit.
“And I think this period where I don’t necessarily have someone is going to tell me a lot. It’s going to teach me a lot, what I want, what I don’t want to look for in the next person.
“So I think I’m using this time period to just figure out what I really value. I’m not too sure yet right now. I haven’t come to any plans or decisions. So yeah, I’m just taking it, using the next couple weeks to see how I feel, and then make a decision.”
Raducanu said last year that she had not intended to sift through so many coaches. Her other previous coaches include Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs. She won the US Open with Richardson before controversially sacking him and appointing Beltz.
“I’ve never really wanted that [turnover of coaches],” Raducanu said last year. “In the past, unfortunately, it hasn’t always worked like this. When I enjoy it, and it’s a good energy, then it’s a nice feeling. I also see how much I’ve developed in the last year as well, on and off the court.”
Raducanu has flown to the UAE to take part in the Abu Dhabi Open. Having initially received a qualifying wildcard, that was then upgraded to a main draw wildcard following withdrawals. It would have been the first time the 22-year-old had played qualifying rounds at any tournament since her US Open victory three-and-a-half years ago.