Emma Raducanu sent shockwaves rippling through the tennis world earlier this year when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, withdrawing due to issues breathing, before going on to win the US Open at the iconic Flushing Meadows in New York, where she sent records tumbling a plenty.
However, just a couple of weeks after that famous straight sets victory over her Canadian counterpart Leylah Fernandez at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 18-year-old announced a shock split from her coach Andrew Richardson, who helped her defy all the odds in the betting on tennis at Betfair.
“As I’m so new to it, I think I really need someone just to guide me who has already been through that themselves,” Raducanu said at her homecoming party hosted at the National Tennis Centre in London.
“Never did I even dream of winning the US Open and now I’m ranked 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me.”
So, with Raducanu on the hunt for a new coach, let’s take a look at three possible options for the 18-year-old. Read on to find out more.
Darren Cahill
Australian coach Darren Cahill seems to fit the bill perfectly. After retiring from tennis, the now 55-year-old coached Lleyton Hewitt, helping him become the youngest World No.1, before going on to train Andre Agassi, who later became the oldest ever top-ranked player. Cahill most recently coached Simona Halep, another player who massively benefitted from the Aussie’s guidance. The Romanian won the French Open and Wimbledon under Cahill’s supervision, whilst also becoming World No.1. However, after six years working together, she announced on her social media last month that it was time to end of their working relationship. That split may have just come at the perfect time for Raducanu though, as someone like Cahill, who also worked with Andy Murray, could be the perfect coach to take her to the next level!
Patrick Mouratoglou
Patrick Mouratoglou is another man with the level of experience Raducanu is looking for. The Frenchman first started coaching in 1996, when he set up the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy near Paris and he has since trained some of the biggest names in the sport, none more so than Serena Williams. He started working with the 23-time Grand Slam champion in 2012, and has helped her win three Wimbledon titles, three US Open crowns, two Australian Opens, three consecutive WTA finals and Olympic gold, all whilst guiding her back to World No. 1. He has also worked with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Coco Gauff since 2018, helping the former climb to third in the world and reach three Grand Slam semi-finals and a final. The problem for Raducanu is that Mouratoglou might not have a lot of time on his hands with several other players already on his books.
Wim Fissette
Another former coach of Halep, Wim Fissette has also worked with the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitová and Johanna Konta, who he helped win the Sydney International and the Miami Open, while also enjoying runs to the latter stages of the Australian Open and Wimbledon respectively. Now the trainer of former World No.1 Naomi Osaka, who is often backed in the tennis betting tips, Fissette has been on the sidelines for the 23-year-old’s second US Open and Australian Open triumphs. Again, the Belgian may already have his work cut out with Osaka, so perhaps Cahill is her best option.
Murray’s name has also been thrown into the ring as well, and whilst we wouldn’t rule it out in the future, it doesn’t seem likely that the Scot will venture down the coaching route until he is ready to hang up his racket once and for all!
