Emma raducanu enters the hard‑court swing ranked 24 in the world, her highest position since 2022, but the headline number belies a deeper struggle to reclaim the instincts that produced a major title. Behind the ranking is a player balancing short‑term help, repeated coaching changes and recovery from illness as she prepares for Indian Wells and Miami.
Raducanu’s short‑term coaching plan: who is involved and why it matters
Emma Raducanu, British number one and 2021 US Open champion, has signalled she is not actively seeking a new full‑time coach immediately and is instead assembling ad hoc support. Her partnership with Francisco Roig ended after the Australian Open in January following a disagreement over playing style; Roig was the seventh full‑time coach she had worked with. Separately, the tally of coaches since she turned professional has been described as nine overall. Raducanu has said she wants to “bring my instincts back out” and is wary of a single appointment that would dictate how she plays.
Two identifiable figures have filled practical roles in recent weeks. Alexis Canter, described as a former British pro who knows Raducanu well, has been the consistent presence in her corner and is credited with recent on‑court routines and drills intended to restore key fundamentals. Mark Petchey, a coach who worked with Andy Murray at the start of his career, has provided day‑to‑day assistance on court at the tournament, in an arrangement described as ad hoc and potentially repeatable. Raducanu has said she asked for Petchey’s help because she felt uncomfortable about her game and noticed short‑term improvement after working with him.
What the record and setbacks reveal about performance and preparation
Verified facts: Raducanu is ranked 24 in the world; she is the British number one and the 2021 US Open champion. Her split with Francisco Roig followed her second‑round exit at the Australian Open in January. She has not recorded a tournament win since the 2021 US Open. She retired during the third set of a first‑round match in the Middle East after taking a medical timeout, and she experienced what she described as a viral infection during a clay‑court event, with lingering effects she has worked to clear ahead of the North American hard‑court events.
Analysis: Those facts, viewed together, point to a player attempting to reconcile technical identity with physical recovery. Repeated changes in coaching personnel can interrupt the process of re‑establishing instinctive patterns; Raducanu has said that some elements of her game have been “coached out” and need relearning. Her choice to work on a trial basis with experienced coaches rather than commit immediately to a full‑time appointment suggests a preference for retaining agency over style and a concern about the pressure that comes with any high‑profile hire.
What needs to change: accountability, clarity and a timeline for revival
Raducanu has framed resilience as a core lesson and has expressed openness to finding a coach who “checks some boxes” without imposing a playbook. Her immediate program emphasizes repetition of fundamentals and a move toward a more aggressive style, with Alexis Canter overseeing specific drills during the current preparations. The short‑term interventions by Petchey have been described as beneficial, but Raducanu herself has warned that any formal appointment risks scrutiny and the pressure to persist with a partnership that may not be the right fit.
Given the combination of interrupted form, recent illness and a long list of past coaches, the case for transparent targets and a staged plan is clear: define measurable technical goals, allow time for physical recovery, and evaluate any coach on short, pre‑agreed benchmarks. That approach would offer a way to balance Raducanu’s desire to reclaim instinctive play with the practical need for expert input.
Final assessment: the coming weeks at Indian Wells and Miami will be a crucial test of whether ad hoc coaching and focused fundamentals can translate into consistent results. If Raducanu is to revive the trajectory that once led to a Grand Slam, she will need both the freedom to rediscover her natural game and a clear, accountable path for reintroducing outside guidance — a hybrid strategy she is currently pursuing.
