Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, has advised Emma Raducanu to commit to a long-term coach to reclaim her past success and fulfill her potential. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Navratilova emphasized the importance of stability in Raducanu’s coaching setup, urging the 22-year-old Brit to “commit to a year” with a coach she trusts and to fully invest in their guidance, including training, fitness, and nutrition. This advice comes as Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, navigates a career marked by flashes of brilliance but hampered by injuries and frequent coaching changes.
Navratilova highlighted that Raducanu’s talent is undeniable, noting her improved performance against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 2025, where she lost a competitive 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in the third round. However, she stressed that consistent coaching is critical for sustained progress. “She needs to stick with somebody longer because when you work with somebody, it takes a while to incorporate into your game and then get the results,” Navratilova said. She compared the process to a new training regime, where immediate improvements in speed or strength are not realistic, emphasizing the need for patience and commitment.
Raducanu has worked with multiple coaches since her US Open triumph, including Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Nick Cavaday, and, most recently, Mark Petchey on an informal basis since March 2025. Petchey, however, ruled out a permanent role due to his media commitments, leaving Raducanu without a fixed coach as she prepares for the North American hard-court swing, starting with the Washington Open. Navratilova believes Raducanu must “take charge” of her career, make her own decisions, and build a stable team to support her development.
The advice follows Raducanu’s promising yet inconsistent 2025 season, where she reached the Miami Open quarter-finals—her best result since 2021—and pushed Sabalenka at Wimbledon, but also slipped to world No. 45, losing her British No. 1 ranking to Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal. Navratilova sees Raducanu’s health as the “biggest question mark” but remains optimistic, suggesting that with consistent coaching and fitness, she could climb into the top 30 and be seeded at Roland Garros. “She’s got the talent, and she’s going in the right direction now,” Navratilova noted.
This perspective aligns with Navratilova’s earlier comments in 2024, where she urged Raducanu to “take ownership” of her career after a first-round US Open exit, pointing to fitness and match play as areas for improvement. With the US Open approaching, Navratilova’s call for a long-term coaching commitment underscores the need for Raducanu to stabilize her team to harness her potential and return to the elite level she achieved at 18.
