Emma Raducanu Parts Ways with Coach Vladimir Platenik After Just One Match
Emma Raducanu has split with Vladimir “Vlado” Platenik after working together for just one match. The British No. 2 had announced the Slovakian coach’s arrival on a trial basis just 14 days ago in Indian Wells. However, after a first-round defeat to Moyuka Uchijima with Platenik in her corner, he was absent from her box during her Miami Open victory on Wednesday.
The decision follows an awkward interview in which Platenik admitted he had previously turned down offers to work with Raducanu, calling it “coaching suicide.” With this latest split, Raducanu remains on the hunt for a full-time coach after parting ways with Nick Cavaday in January.
Short-Lived Trial Ends Abruptly
Ahead of her Indian Wells opener, Raducanu brought in Platenik, a coach with experience working with top players like Daria Kasatkina, Dominika Cibulkova, and Veronika Kudermetova. He was also part of Lulu Sun’s team when the New Zealander defeated Raducanu at Wimbledon last year.
However, their partnership got off to a rocky start, as Raducanu crashed out in the first round in Indian Wells while Platenik watched from her box. At the time, Raducanu downplayed the loss, saying it was too early to judge their collaboration.
“We haven’t necessarily done that much yet because he arrived very, very recently. So it was the day before the match, where we don’t necessarily want to change anything,” she explained. “From how I have met him, he’s very serious, very professional, and gets on with it. So yeah, we’ll see how it goes.”
But just two weeks later, it seems Raducanu has already moved on. When she took to the court for her first-round match in Miami, Platenik was nowhere to be seen. Instead, LTA coach Colin Beecher, long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura were in her box.
According to Express Sport, the partnership wasn’t progressing in the right direction, and Raducanu is continuing her search for a new coach in Miami. Despite the split, she reportedly holds the “utmost respect” for Platenik.
Platenik’s Controversial Remarks
Platenik had raised eyebrows with his comments shortly after joining Raducanu’s team. Speaking to Dennik N, he revealed that he had turned down two previous opportunities to coach her, citing concerns over her frequent coaching changes.
“Emma also approached me in a similar situation right after a great success [in 2021], which is why I said it could be coaching suicide [to work with her],” he said. “But now she is in a completely different position. She’s already gone through hell and been through the worst.”
The Slovakian coach also claimed that Raducanu and her father, Ian, had reached out to him again before she eventually hired Nick Cavaday.
“I wrote to Ian to ask if they had anyone, as I knew their interest in me was more long-term. Her father wrote back that they didn’t have anyone and would like to try working with me,” he explained.
Despite his initial reservations, Platenik had seemed optimistic about a long-term partnership. “They [the Raducanu family] have been communicating with me for a long time because they consider me to be that kind of coach. Of course, I perceive that they change coaches often. However, I want to help Emma, and if both parties recognize that I am successful, I believe the relationship will last longer.”
That, however, will not be the case.
Moving Forward in Miami
Platenik’s absence didn’t appear to affect Raducanu in Miami, as she breezed past wildcard Sayaka Ishii in just 66 minutes to secure a second-round spot. While her coaching carousel continues, the British star remains focused on building momentum in her comeback season.
