What does Emma Raducanu really need on a tennis court docket?
That was the query requested by Sky Sports activities’ commentator Jonathan Overend within the aftermath of Raducanu’s Australian Open exit, which be consider highlighted “confusion” within the camp of the “shackled” British No 1.
The interval via final spring and summer time, when Raducanu was with no everlasting coach however working with former British No 1 Mark Petchey, supplied actual promise.
After Wimbledon, the previous US Open champion turned to Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig following a trial in July, however it appears she has taken one thing of a step again.
The world No 29 was a doubt for the Australian Open after a foot downside all through pre-season left her enjoying catch-up, solely returning to the court docket in late December.
She appeared wanting match sharpness in a conflict with Maria Sakkari on the United Cup, whereas she beat Camila Osorio within the opening spherical in Hobart however then misplaced to world No 204 Taylah Preston.
In Melbourne, Raducanu stated she was able to re-evaluate her recreation after her second-round exit to Anastasia Potapova on Wednesday.
“As so usually, there’s lots of studying between the traces to do whenever you assess Raducanu’s post-match and post-Australian Open feedback. The one which jumps out to me is ‘re-evaluate,'” stated Overend.
“I feel she has spent lots of her younger profession re-evaluating. In a single regard, it explains why she has been via so many coaches and why she has been criticised for it.
“It is typical of the Raducanu that desires to maintain re-evaluating and discovering out what’s greatest for her on and round a tennis court docket. That problem continues, and to some extent it’s a wrestle, as a result of discovering the correct steadiness is so laborious, however I feel she is slowly getting [it], not by way of her Grand Slam outcomes however by way of that re-evaluation course of.
“What’s it she actually needs for herself on a tennis court docket and in tournaments?”
Is Raducanu feeling shackled?
Francis Roig has been working with Raducanu since Wimbledon
Overend questioned whether or not Raducanu’s begin to the season was symptomatic of an overloaded participant below new tuition wanting to interrupt free.
“When studying between the traces, it sounds to me like there may be confusion – confusion which might usually come from coaches,” he added.
“This is not being vital of Roig; he is completed lots of good work with Raducanu, that a lot is obvious. However the harsh actuality of the participant‑coach relationship is that the participant is the boss – the employer.
“In some circumstances, the coach wants the job; in some circumstances, the coach needs the job; and in different circumstances, the coach neither wants nor needs the job however is in it anyway.
“There’s all the time strategic, tactical, and technical recommendation a coach can provide as a result of they’re skilled and have a sure diploma of success. However what’s success on the subject of tennis teaching? It’s a nice unknown.
“How would a participant have gotten on with out the enter of a sure coach? Would they’ve been nearly as good? May they’ve been higher?
“It sounds to me like Raducanu is feeling shackled, feeling like she must be freer and, in the end, must be her personal boss.”
Teaching carousel
Martina Navratilova solutions the Sky Sports activities viewers’ questions, together with how Raducanu may play together with her new coach…
There was lots of consideration on Raducanu’s coaches throughout her profession after a number of modifications during the last 4 years.
Her first skilled coach Nigel Sears left after she reached the fourth spherical of Wimbledon in 2021, earlier than she selected to not lengthen her contract with Andrew Richardson, who helped the then 18-year-old to a memorable US Open title.
Torben Beltz had a brief spell as her coach between November 2021 and April 2022, earlier than being changed by Dimitri Tursunov, who warned of “crimson flags” if Raducanu continued to hearken to too many voices.
Sebastian Sachs lasted simply the primary half of 2023 as Raducanu’s coach earlier than reuniting with Nick Cavaday, who mentored her as a junior final 12 months.
Nevertheless, Cavaday stepped again in the beginning of this season in January for well being causes however labored with Raducanu once more in the course of the grass-court season, alongside Petchey.
Raducanu performed a few of her greatest tennis below Petchey, whose tv commitments meant he was all the time unable to change into a full-time coach earlier than she turned to Roig.
Have a look again at Raducanu’s unimaginable win on the 2021 US Open
“I am not suggesting she ought to go it alone or sack Roig, however whenever you consider a few of Raducanu’s greatest moments in recent times, it is when she’s smiling and having fun with herself on the follow and match courts, when she’s feeling free and impressive,” Overend stated.
“You need her to really feel that extra usually. If she is feeling restricted by the additional selection she’s bringing into her recreation due to technical tweaking and experimentation, and it is making her not get pleasure from her tennis, it is a unhealthy factor.
“Her remark about having fun with hitting the ball laborious and quick into the corners – how she gained the US Open. I would say go for it, Emma, get pleasure from it. If that is the a part of the sport you’re keen on, do extra of it.”
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