Emma Raducanu has picked her coach for Indian Wells while still hunting for a permanent training partner. After parting ways with Nick Cavaday—who, per ESPN, stepped back for health reasons—the British star continues to grapple with the task of securing a steady coach.
For the moment, Raducanu is keeping cool and has settled on a guide for her California stint. She’s tapped Slovakian coach Vlado Platenik, who’ll join her on a trial basis this week at Tennis Paradise. The 49-year-old brings experience from working with Daria Kasatkina, Dominika Cibulkova, Anna Blinkova, and Veronika Kudermetova.
Platenik was until lately molding New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, a 2024 standout who hit the Wimbledon quarterfinals—toppling Raducanu en route. He’s sung Sun’s praises: “I don’t want to curse it, but Lulu’s incredible. She’s easy to coach, though she lacked some self-belief. It’s in her nature, and I’ve focused on boosting her confidence while keeping her gentle spirit intact.”
Early reports pegged Tom Welsh as Raducanu’s interim coach for Indian Wells. But, per Express, she’s now opted for Platenik for the coming weeks, eyeing a potential long-haul fit.
