Emma Raducanu to ‘tap into a few people’ for coaching advice

Remember when Raducanu caused a huge shock by winning the 2021 US Open as a young player who had yet to play in a professional tournament?

He managed to achieve the unthinkable by playing with a freedom that he has not been able to replicate consistently since.

Almost five years later, Raducanu, who has only reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament once, is determined to get back to basics.

This means rediscovering his natural instincts to be an aggressive starter. His early success was built on his unafraid to take early returns to pressure his opponents.

First serves were thrown deep down the court and second serves were parried with impunity to instantly outshine their opponents.

Raducanu’s strength on both wings was impressive, but it was clear that her forehand needed more work than her solid and stylish backhand.

Over the next year, his forehand deteriorated to the point where it lacked any stroke, and after wrist surgery that ruled out nearly the entire 2023 season, that’s what Roig tried to reshape.

But Raducanu’s lack of confidence in what he was being asked to do was evident at the Australian Open.

In a demoralizing second-round exit, he made 19 unforced errors on the wing and then spoke of returning to a simple philosophy: “hitting the ball into the corners and hitting it hard”.

Raducanu’s ambition to return to the top 10 and challenge the best players (body and mind) has another side.

He must continue to build fitness and endurance to execute the style he wants and dare to throw it aside in difficult moments.