Emma Raducanu has defended her frequent coaching changes and pledged to continue emulating the Royal family’s example.
The 22-year-old, ahead of the U.S. Open, has enlisted the services of Francis Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former coach, to work alongside Mark Petchey. Roig, a Spaniard, is the most recent mentor to join forces with Britain’s No. 1 since she split from Andrew Richardson following her stunning victory at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
Earlier this year, Raducanu, who recently asked for a child to be removed from the crowd at one of her matches, parted ways with Nick Cavaday due to his health issues, before partnering with Vlado Platenik. However, this partnership only lasted for one match before Petchey stepped in on a part-time basis.
The constant changes have drawn criticism from fans and commentators alike, who believe they have disrupted her rhythm and training routines. But Raducanu has hit back, arguing that many of her coaches were not full-time appointments.
She remarked: “I would say, when you see things and you’re like, ‘Oh, Emma on her ninth coach’ or something, I’m like, ‘Guys, come on.’ Certain ones don’t count.
“If you’ve had a trial, you don’t have to carry on after the trial. A few have been trials, a few have been other situations. And I just try and take the high road. And try to do what the royal family would do.”
The star chuckled through her final statement, hinting that she would follow their lead in not publicly discussing individuals or contentious issues. However, the king himself has previously teased her about her coaching dilemmas.
In 2022, after her U.S. Open victory, King Charles III presented her with an MBE during a Royal ceremony and humorously asked if she “had found a coach yet?”
Raducanu took the jest in stride, sharing a laugh with the king afterwards.
Following her triumphant win in New York, Raducanu received a congratulatory message from then-Monarch Queen Elizabeth II. The queen lauded Raducanu’s “remarkable achievement,” but the player later confessed to having framed the letter.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
