Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and world No. 38, revealed that her new coach, Francisco Roig, delivered an 11-word message that fueled her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Olga Danilović in the second round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open on August 9, 2025: “You are good enough to compete with the best players.” Speaking to Sky Sports, as reported by DExpress_Sport on X (August 10, 2025), Raducanu said, “Francisco told me, ‘You are good enough to compete with the best players,’ and that’s really stuck with me. It’s given me confidence to go out there and play my game.” The message, delivered before her match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, underscored Roig’s belief in her ability to challenge top players like her next opponent, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Roig, who coached Rafael Nadal to all 22 of his Grand Slam titles, joined Raducanu’s team after her Wimbledon third-round loss to Sabalenka (7-6(6), 6-4) in July 2025. His blunt, confidence-building approach, praised by Feliciano Lopez as “the best in the world” for spotting technical flaws, was evident in Raducanu’s performance, per tennisuptodate.com. She fired seven aces, won 71% of first-serve points, and broke Danilović five times, showcasing improved serve and aggression, per ESPN. Raducanu’s 23-16 season record, including wins over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, reflects her growing consistency under Roig’s guidance.
The 11-word message resonated as Raducanu navigates a crucial stretch, needing 120-215 points from Cincinnati to secure a US Open top-32 seed, per Tennis Majors. Her post-match comments highlighted Roig’s calming influence: “I trust him completely, and his experience with Rafa is invaluable,” per Telegraph.co.uk. Fans on X, like @TennisFanatic22, celebrated the impact: “Roig’s words clearly lit a fire under Emma—love this partnership!” Facing Sabalenka next on August 11 at 11:00 AM ET, Raducanu’s belief, bolstered by Roig’s succinct encouragement, sets the stage for a potential upset as she eyes a US Open resurgence alongside her mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz.
