Emma Raducanu Unlikely to Appoint New Coach Anytime Soon, Says Laura Robson
Emma Raducanu is in no rush to hire a new head coach, with former British No. 1 Laura Robson noting that her “options are pretty limited” when it comes to finding a mentor who can travel full-time.
The 2021 US Open champion has been without a coach since January, following Nick Cavaday’s departure after the Australian Open to focus on his health. Raducanu, who has frequently changed coaches since her breakthrough, had started working with Cavaday—one of her childhood mentors—toward the end of 2023 and had shown signs of progress under his guidance.
Cavaday cited health concerns and the demands of constant travel as reasons for stepping down, stating:
“It’s important for me to spend some more time at home and prioritize getting back to full health, which is hard to do with the extensive calendar. I am glad Emma is back to being established on tour now with a ranking inside the top 60, and I look forward to seeing what she does from here.”
Since Cavaday’s departure, Raducanu has been traveling with only her mother and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamuru. Jane O’Donoghue, another of her early coaches, joined her for the Middle East swing, but no long-term coaching plans have been confirmed. Raducanu has emphasized that any future appointment must be the “right fit.”
Robson: Raducanu Won’t Rush a Coaching Decision
Robson believes Raducanu is sticking to her principle of waiting for the right person, despite some early struggles without a coach.
“Emma Raducanu has been out in the Middle East trying to build on the form we saw from her in Australia. She is competing really well and making sure she’s trying to do the right things on the court,” Robson wrote in her Sky Sports Tennis column.
“I don’t think she’s in any rush, really, to employ someone new, just for the sake of it. It has to make sense for her and it has to be the right person.
“There’s not too many amazing coaches around who can travel full-time, so options are pretty limited. You wouldn’t want to go into a new partnership without 100 percent confidence.”
Struggles Since the Australian Open
Raducanu has faced a challenging run of form since her third-round exit in Melbourne, losing four of her last five matches. After first-round defeats in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, she secured an impressive victory over Maria Sakkari in Dubai before falling to Karolina Muchova in the next round.
Despite her recent struggles, Raducanu will be back in action at the upcoming Sunshine Double, with direct entry into both the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open. However, as things stand, she is likely to continue competing without a head coach.
