“Maybe I Was Too…”- After a Short 14-Day Stint, Emma Raducanu’s Coach Explains Their Sudden Split
Emma Raducanu’s Coaching Struggles Continue as She Parts Ways with Vladimir Platenik
Seven coaches in less than four years! Emma Raducanu’s coaching carousel continues as she recently split from interim coach Vladimir Platenik. The British star has been without a permanent coach since Nick Cavaday stepped down due to health issues following the 2025 Australian Open. Platenik was expected to remain with her at least until the French Open, but his early departure has sparked speculation within the tennis world. Interestingly, just a month ago, the Slovak coach had admitted to twice turning down the opportunity to work with Raducanu, calling the position “coaching suicide.” But what did he have to say following his abrupt exit?
Platenik’s short trial with Raducanu began after her early exit at Indian Wells. Though she started strong at the Miami Open, securing a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Japan’s Sayaka Ishii in the first round, his absence from her player’s box was immediately noticed. Instead, long-time confidante Jane O’Donoghue, LTA women’s national coach Collin Beecher, and her full-time fitness trainer Yukata Nakamura were spotted supporting her. Shortly after, Raducanu’s spokesperson confirmed the split, stating:
“Emma and Vlado have parted ways. Emma has the utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started, but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction. Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”
While rumors swirled, Platenik later revealed to BBC Sport that Raducanu made the decision to end their partnership because she was “feeling stressed and under a lot of pressure.”
A Difficult Phase for Raducanu
From being the 2021 US Open champion to struggling with frequent injuries and coaching instability, Raducanu’s journey has been anything but smooth. Platenik expressed understanding of her situation, saying:
“There are no hard feelings from my side. She ended the relationship in a fair way—maybe too quickly—but this is tennis, this is sport. We need to respect that. She was not feeling okay, and that was her decision. I didn’t want to push for deeper communication on it. The player needs to feel good and make their own decisions. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes they’re not.”
Interestingly, Platenik revealed that Raducanu’s father, Ian, had once asked him to recommend a coach for her. Although he initially suggested someone else, he eventually connected with her after parting ways with New Zealand’s Lulu Sun. Reflecting on his brief time coaching Raducanu, Platenik admitted he was “surprised” by how she trained, noting her struggles with rallying, adapting to different speeds, spins, and angles.
Despite this, he believed in her potential, stating, “I was happy because I had never seen a player improve so rapidly in just 8-9 days.” He pointed to her dominant performance against Ishii as proof of her technical progress. While their time together was brief, Platenik was content knowing she had taken something positive from his guidance. He concluded:
“I was always honest—maybe too honest. A lot of players, parents, and people around them don’t like it, but tennis is an honest sport.”
Miami Open 2025: Raducanu vs. Navarro – Can She Silence Her Critics?
Raducanu has faced frequent criticism for her revolving door of coaches. Tennis greats like Patrick Mouratoglou have called it “not ideal,” while Ann Jones labeled it “ridiculous.” With Platenik’s departure, the scrutiny will only intensify. However, Raducanu has a chance to shift the narrative with a strong performance in Miami.
Having missed last year’s Miami Open due to injury, the world No. 60 is eager to break back into the Top 50. But her path won’t be easy—she faces a tough second-round clash against America’s Emma Navarro. Navarro, fresh off a title win in Merida, could pose a serious challenge. If Raducanu advances, she could face Linda Noskova, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and even the world’s top two players in the later rounds.
Former British No. 1 Laura Robson acknowledged the difficulty of Raducanu’s draw:
“For Emma, if she gets past the first round, the seed in her section is Emma Navarro. So, a very tough draw.”
Raducanu, however, remains determined, calling the matchup “extremely challenging.” She admitted,
“She’s probably in better form, so I just want to go out there, express myself, and compete for every point.”
She also praised Navarro’s deceptive power and versatility, saying,
“Her backhand, especially, is a lot stronger than it looks. She can do a lot with the ball.”
With her coaching struggles in the spotlight, can Raducanu let her racket do the talking and deliver a statement performance in Miami? The battle of the two Emmas awaits—who will have the last laugh in their first-ever showdown?
