Emma Raducanu names the coach who is going to help her out for the Abu Dhabi Open after splitting with Nick Cavaday

Emma Raducanu Begins Search for New Coach After Nick Cavaday Split

Emma Raducanu is in the market for a new coach following her split from Nick Cavaday, who stepped down after the Australian Open to focus on his health. Their partnership, which lasted just over a year, was Raducanu’s longest coaching stint since her breakthrough US Open victory in 2021.

The 2025 season has already been a mix of highs and lows for the 22-year-old Brit. She achieved her best-ever Australian Open result, but her momentum was halted with a disappointing first-round exit at the Singapore Open. Now, looking to turn the page, Raducanu has arrived in Abu Dhabi, where she will compete in the WTA 500 event against former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.

Raducanu Reunites with Former Coach Roman Kelecic

While she has yet to name a permanent coach, Raducanu has enlisted a familiar face for the Abu Dhabi Open. She will continue working with her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura and has reunited with Roman Kelecic, a Croatian coach who mentored her during her junior years.

Kelecic, who guided Raducanu between the ages of 14 and 16 on the ITF circuit, is now based in Dubai. Their reconnection began as a casual catch-up but soon turned into a temporary coaching partnership.

“He traveled with me when I was 14, 15, in the junior ITFs; we went to all the glamorous places together when we were younger in the juniors,” Raducanu told The National.

“We haven’t honestly seen each other in so many years. But he’s based out of Dubai, and I wanted to see him anyway, just to catch up. So I texted him, and now he’s on court with me, so he’s going to help me out this week.”

Raducanu Taking Her Time to Find the Right Coach

With speculation growing over who will be Raducanu’s next full-time coach, the world No. 60 has made it clear that she’s in no rush to make a decision.

“It’s a decision that I want to take my time with,” she said.

“I think that’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away—because I want to make sure it’s the right fit.

This period where I don’t necessarily have someone is going to tell me a lot. It’s going to teach me what I want and what I don’t want to look for in the next person.

So I think I’m using this time 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’s Coaching History

Since her rise to stardom in 2021, Raducanu has worked with several different coaches:

Future Tournaments Still Uncertain

While Raducanu is confirmed to play in Abu Dhabi, she remains undecided about her participation in upcoming Middle Eastern tournaments in Doha and Dubai. Her focus for now is on rediscovering her form while carefully considering the next step in her coaching journey.

With a new coach search underway and another test against a top-10 opponent on the horizon, all eyes will be on Raducanu as she looks to rebuild momentum in 2025.