On May 25, 2025, Emma Raducanu’s former coach Philippe Dehaes revealed a critical insight into why coaches struggle to last with the 2021 US Open champion, stating that failing to cater to her analytical mindset is a “sure-fire way to get sacked in three weeks” (Express, May 25, 2025). In a new book, Inside Emma’s Circle, serialized by The Telegraph, Dehaes explained that Raducanu’s need for detailed opponent data and reasoned explanations is non-negotiable, a trait echoing the high-pressure scrutiny faced by Rafael Nadal during his French Open farewell (Express, May 25, 2025).
Dehaes, who briefly coached Raducanu during her A-level years, noted her “super analytic” personality, uncovered through a profiling test. “You cannot send her to play a match without giving her a lot of information about the opponent,” he said. “If you don’t know she loves to know a lot of info, after three weeks you’ll be fired, that’s for sure” (Express, May 25, 2025). Raducanu’s inquisitive nature, which she admitted led to past coaching splits, demands coaches justify advice thoroughly, or risk dismissal (Express, May 25, 2025).
This pattern is evident in Raducanu’s history of cycling through seven coaches since 2021, including Andrew Richardson, sacked post-US Open, and Vlado Platenik, axed after 14 days in March 2025 (Daily Mail, Mar 20, 2025). Platenik, who praised her rapid improvement, cited stress as a factor in their split, exacerbated by her father Ian’s intense oversight (The Independent, Mar 21, 2025). Ian’s “mathematical” approach, believing all variables can be controlled, often clashes with coaches, Dehaes added (The Telegraph, May 25, 2025).
As Raducanu faces Katie Volynets at Roland Garros, her current reliance on LTA coach Colin Beecher and mentor Jane O’Donoghue highlights the challenge of finding a long-term fit (The Telegraph, May 25, 2025). Like Nadal’s emotional resilience, Raducanu’s analytical rigor demands alignment, or coaches face a swift exit.
