Raducanu in no hurry to add to collection of coaches

Emma Raducanu has laid down the law as the former US Open winner searches for the seventh coach of her career, with the Briton apparently in no hurry to formalise a new hire.

The 2021 champion who won her Grand Slam title from a qualifying start, has been through six mentors in just a handful of seasons, with her most recent, Nick Cavaday, quitting to take care of personal health matters.

Raducanu has battled injuries and a decided lack of match play, going through coaches like a bag of sweets. 

She reached last month’s Australian Open third round, but then won just a game off of Iga Swiatek before crashing out in the first round of Singapore last week.

But Raducanu, ranked 56th, is standing firm in her determination to control her own destiny and refuses to be rushed as she picks a lucky seventh mentor.

“It’s a decision that I want to take my time with,” she said prior to her start at the WTA Abu Dhabi event.

“That’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away, because I want to make sure it’s a right fit.

“And this period where I don’t have someone is going to teach me a lot, what I want, what I don’t want to look for in the next person.”
The 22-year-old added:

I’m not too sure yet right now. I haven’t come to any plans or decisions. 

“I’m using the next couple weeks to see how I feel, and then make a decision.”

Raducanu’s list of discarded coaches includes Andy Murray’s father-in-law Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, German Torben Beltz, Russian Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs. .

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t always worked like this (smoothly),” she said. (But) I see how much I’ve developed in the last year as well, on and off the court.”

Raducanu has a tough ask in the Abu Dhabi opening round, facing off with former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova.