Emma Raducanu’s Coaching Woes Could End as Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Opens Up to a Potential Change
Emma Raducanu’s Coaching Carousel Continues as Rennae Stubbs Weighs In
Emma Raducanu’s ongoing search for stability took another turn this January as she parted ways with her sixth coach, Nick Cavaday. “I’d like to thank Nick for a great partnership over the last year and a bit, especially post-surgeries,” she shared following their split. Since then, the British star has struggled on the court, suffering early exits at the Singapore Tennis Open and Qatar Open.
Now, as Raducanu continues her search for a new mentor, former doubles No. 1 and renowned coach Rennae Stubbs has weighed in on what she believes the 2021 US Open champion needs to regain her form.
Raducanu’s Frequent Coaching Changes: A Key Factor in Her Struggles?
Since her stunning Grand Slam victory in New York at just 18 years old, Raducanu has endured a turbulent coaching journey. She split with Torben Beltz in April 2022—her third coaching change in just nine months—adding to a revolving door of mentors that includes Nigel Sears, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs.
Among them, Andrew Richardson stands out as a pivotal figure, guiding Raducanu to her historic US Open title as a 150th-ranked qualifier. However, even with such a significant achievement, she opted to part ways with him shortly after her victory.
Stubbs’ Approach: Finding Clarity in Raducanu’s Goals
On a recent episode of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the former coach and player shared her thoughts on coaching Raducanu, outlining the key changes she would make.
“I would consider it, of course. I would never say no to an opportunity to work with a Grand Slam champion,” Stubbs stated. “But the first thing I would do is sit her down and ask her what she wants. I think that’s the key.”
According to Stubbs, understanding a player’s mindset and long-term ambitions is crucial before implementing technical changes. “You have to know what your player wants. I think coaches often come in thinking, ‘I’ll tweak this or that,’ but I would sit her down and say, ‘Let’s be honest here—what do you want? How do you want to approach this?’”
Stubbs emphasized that unrealistic expectations could be detrimental, instead advocating for an honest assessment of Raducanu’s current level. “It’s a sit-down, ‘come to Jesus’ moment. We need to be realistic—winning another Slam tomorrow isn’t likely. So what are her goals, and how do we get there?”
Raducanu’s Tough Start to 2025: A Career-First Losing Streak
Raducanu’s struggles have only deepened in the early stages of 2025. The former world No. 10 has now suffered four consecutive losses—a first in her career.
She initially showed promise at the Australian Open, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova in the opening rounds. However, her campaign came to an abrupt halt in the third round, where world No. 2 Iga Swiatek handed her a crushing 6-1, 6-0 defeat.
Reflecting on the match, Raducanu remained optimistic: “Three weeks ago, I was doing pool rehab. To be on a court playing matches and competing is something I have to be grateful for. I have to take a positive from beating two top opponents in the first two rounds.”
Yet, since her exit in Melbourne, things have only gotten worse. First-round eliminations at the Singapore Open, Abu Dhabi Open, and Qatar Open have added to the pressure. Her wildcard entries in Abu Dhabi and Qatar sparked criticism from fans, and now, she’s reportedly set for another wildcard appearance at the Dubai Masters next week.
With her form slipping and expectations mounting, can Raducanu turn things around in Dubai? Or will her struggles continue as she searches for the right coach and a path back to the top?
