‘It has to be the right fit’: Emma Raducanu on search for a new coach, life on tour and Abu Dhabi
Emma Raducanu Stays Present Amid Coaching Changes and Abu Dhabi Challenge
As Emma Raducanu sat down for media duties ahead of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, the tournament draw had just concluded. The 22-year-old Brit, who accepted a wildcard entry, had been handed a tough first-round clash against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova—but she wasn’t ready to face that reality just yet.
“I’ve just been face down on the massage table. I’ll figure it out later, I’m half asleep,” Raducanu laughed in an interview with The National.
Taking Things Week by Week
Raducanu is keeping her plans flexible, unsure if she’ll continue competing in the Middle East after Abu Dhabi. The Doha (Feb 9) and Dubai (Feb 16) WTA 1000 tournaments are on the horizon, but she’s making decisions week by week.
“I have no idea. I’m going to take it week by week, see how I am, see how the body is, and see what kind of plan we put in place. But I’m not thinking too far ahead, just taking it day by day,” she explained.
That day-by-day approach extends beyond her schedule—it also applies to her search for a new coach following Nick Cavaday’s departure due to health concerns.
Coaching Transition: No Rush for a Replacement
Cavaday, who first coached Raducanu in her junior days, rejoined her team in early 2024, helping her climb from outside the top 300 to inside the top 60 in just nine months. However, after her Australian Open third-round exit, he stepped down for personal health reasons.
“It’s difficult. Nick is a great person. He’s someone I’ve known since I was a young girl, and I think we were working really well together,” Raducanu said.
“Unfortunately, he had to prioritize his health, which I completely understand, and I support him. I just wish him the speediest of recoveries.”
For now, Raducanu isn’t rushing into appointing a permanent coach. Instead, she has her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura and Roman Kelecic, a former junior coach based in Dubai, by her side in Abu Dhabi.
“He traveled with me when I was 14, 15, in the junior ITFs; we went to all the glamorous places together when we were younger,” Raducanu said of Kelecic.
“I wanted to catch up with him anyway, so I texted him, and now he’s on court with me helping out this week.”
A Fresh Perspective on Finding a Coach
Raducanu acknowledges that she’s still figuring out exactly what she wants in a long-term coach.
“I think that’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away—because I want to make sure it’s the right fit.”
“This period where I don’t necessarily have someone is going to tell me a lot. It’s going to teach me what I want and what I don’t want in the next person. So I’m using this time to figure out what I really value.”
Lessons from 2024: Cutting Out the Noise
Since her US Open triumph in 2021, Raducanu has faced intense scrutiny, multiple injuries, and several coaching changes. After an injury-ridden 2023 season, she’s determined to eliminate distractions.
“Anything that’s not necessarily serving me, I’m just pretty savage about cutting out,” she said in Melbourne.
In Abu Dhabi, she elaborated:
“Last year was tough, missing the second half of the season due to injury. I had a lot of time to reflect, and I had to make difficult decisions—ones that were emotionally hard but necessary.”
Spending more time alone has helped her regain focus.
“I’ve been going on solo walks, solo coffee dates, and just looking inward more. The tour is quite a lonely place, but I’ve been enjoying it so far.”
Emma, Reading Emma
One of her biggest escapes? Classic literature. Raducanu developed a love for Jane Austen after studying Pride and Prejudice in school. Now, she’s reading Austen’s Emma—a choice that felt inevitable.
“I annotated Pride and Prejudice until there was no space left on the pages,” she recalled. “Now I’m reading Emma—not the easiest read, but a great story. And, of course, with the name, I just had to.”
Enjoying Abu Dhabi—On and Off the Court
A self-proclaimed foodie, Raducanu has been enjoying Middle Eastern cuisine, indulging in dishes like lamb koftas and hummus. She hopes to stay in Abu Dhabi long enough to sample even more.
As for her physical condition, she reports no injuries or niggles “for now”, a contrast to the struggles of previous seasons.
“I’ve not played on tour like this before—just a lot of points in practice, which is exactly what I need. Conditions are windy, so I’m adjusting, but there are no issues for now, and I’m grateful for that.”
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter in 2025
Despite an uncertain coaching situation and a tough first-round opponent, Raducanu is embracing the challenge. Her focus is sharper, her approach is more measured, and she’s taking the season one step at a time.
Her immediate goal? A deep run in Abu Dhabi. After that, she’ll decide what comes next—on her own terms.
