Emma Raducanu will work with a new coach for the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells. The Brit has not had a full-time coach since she parted ways with Nick Cavaday earlier this year. Raducanu has since enlisted some of her junior team members and LTA staff as temporary mentors.
But the world No. 55 will now link up with Slovakian coach Vlado Platenik on a trial basis for the fortnight in Califonia. Platenik has coached several other WTA stars, including Lulu Sun. He was in Sun’s corner when the Kiwi player beat Raducanu at Wimbledon last summer.
Raducanu is still searching for a permanent coach after her partnership with Cavaday came to an end after 14 months. One of her childhood coaches, Cavaday stepped away to take some time at home to recover from a health condition.
The 22-year-old previously said she didn’t want to rush the decision and used ad-hoc coaches at her last few tournaments. But Raducanu appears to be eyeing a longer-term partnership as she will work with Platenik on a trial basis in Indian Wells.
Platenik has previously worked with the likes of Daria Kasatkina, Dominika Cibulkova and Veronika Kudermetova. He also coached Sun during the 2024 season, including during Wimbledon, where she beat Raducanu.
Sun was ranked at No. 123 in the world at the time and came through qualifying to reach her second Grand Slam main draw. She defeated Raducanu in the round-of-16 before her sensational run ended in the quarter-final.
It was previously announced that interim coach Tom Welsh would travel to Indian Wells with Raducanu and her fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura. Welsh has already been spotted on the practice court with Raducanu.
Welsh has also previously worked with another one of the Brit’s rivals, Leylah Fernandez. Raducanu famously beat Fernandez in the final of the 2021 US Open to make history, becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title.
Raducanu will begin her Indian Wells campaign against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on Thursday. No. 3 seed Coco Gauff awaits the winner in the second round.
The Brit has good memories in Indian Wells – she reached the third round last year before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. In 2023, Raducanu stormed into the last 16, beating two top-20 seeds en route.
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