"At the time, I don’t think it was fair to say I made a mistake" - Emma Raducanu 'pulled left and right' when splitting with Richardson

Emma Raducanu only just recently made a return to the WTA Tour thanks to a lingering virus but is already being thrown into the deep end at the French Open. Her coaching switch was the main topic in the press conference ahead of her third appearance at Roland Garros.

Raducanu unveiled that at one point she was uncertain on whether she would be able to even compete in the tournament. "It’s nice to be back in Paris," she began. "I feel like the year passed very quickly, but it’s an amazing feeling to be back at a Grand Slam. I’m very grateful to be here after the past couple of months I’ve had. There was a point where I wasn’t sure. I think I’m feeling good about how I’m approaching each day and working, so yeah, just happy to be here."

This virus picked up in the Middle East affected her dearly, forcing her to miss all the tournaments from the Miami Open until the present day with her return in Strasbourg a premature one. "I feel a lot better. I think I’ve completely turned it around. There’s still a little lingering cough, but health-wise I feel really good," she thankfully confirmed. "There are always ups and downs physically, but I’m much better overall. I played a really positive match last week in Strasbourg — it went over two hours — and physically I recovered pretty well from it. So I’m happy to take that and build from it."

Raducanu is one of the players not completely siding with the prize money debacle currently ongoing at Grand Slam level. Players are making sure they do not spend more than 15 minutes speaking to media in press conferences and similar events. However, Raducanu is solely focusing on her tennis.

"I mean, why wouldn’t I want to be talking to you guys for more than 15 minutes? I don’t understand," she joked. "For me, it’s part of what we do. Of course, I understand the players’ position compared to other sports where the percentage is lower. But honestly, I’ve just been focused on trying to get myself back to operating at a high level again. For me, playing a Grand Slam isn’t necessarily just about the money. It’s a lot more about the prestige and the history, and that’s what I value most. So yeah, I’m just grateful to be in another Slam."

Raducanu has recently rejoined forces with Andrew Richardson who was with her in that triumphant US Open run back in 2021. She will be hoping that spark is still very much there between the two.

I" think he’s someone I’ve known for a very long time — over a decade — and we’ve always had great chemistry as a coach-player relationship. That was evident every time we worked together," she commented.

"After I had a break because I got sick, I wanted to come back in a really authentic way. I reached out without necessarily knowing where it was going or how it would come about, and everything happened very quickly. He was still at the academy, and they were very accommodating when I went there to train, and also with him being able to start so soon. So it all happened very quickly, but I’m just very happy to have him back."

She confirmed that they would be together for the rest of the year. "We’re working together for the rest of the year, which is a good thing. I think consistency is needed and, regardless of results, I want to commit and give everything I can.

"It’s been working really well since I started training again. We stayed in touch, but it started with a text. I was like, 'Heyyyy.' When you get a text from me with three Ys, just know something’s cooking. Then we caught up on a bit of lost time, had a really good chat, and very quickly got on a call."

Since Raducanu and Richardson went their separate ways, she has struggled to find a coach to stick with for the long term. The most recent, Francisco Roig, lasted six months together, the longest of any coach. Whether it was a mistake or not to let the 52-year-old go from his post after the US Open run, Raducanu was unsure.

"At the time, I don’t think it was fair to say I made a mistake because my whole life changed upside down," she recalled. "I didn’t really feel like I had control over the situation. I was being pulled left and right and didn’t really know what was going on.

"Everything happened very quickly then. What the last few years taught me was a lot about what I didn’t want. It also taught me that I really value having people around me that I trust and connect with. So it’s really nice to have that feeling back."

She delved deeper into why they work so well on court together. "You naturally form easier bonds with certain people than others. He’s known me since I was very young, and I know he’s always genuinely wanted the best for me. When someone knew you before any success happened, it does make a difference too.

"As a coach, he really believes in me. He doesn’t get swayed or put off by results. He’s very consistent and solid. It’s just: we work, we do our best, we try again, and we improve step by step. That’s something I really need because I’m naturally more emotional and I want things to happen quickly. Having him there steady every day is really good for me."

Overall, she was very happy with getting Richardson back in the fray, glowing in praise of his coaching. "He’s a great coach because he doesn’t necessarily need to speak all the time, but when he does, it’s impactful," she stated. "On one hand, he’s relatively soft-spoken, but he also has a very fiery side, which I really enjoy. He gets fired up, and I build off that energy too. We bounce off each other well. He also really emphasises the fundamentals — using the full body to hit shots, bringing intensity to every practice. Every ball has a purpose. It’s all about building good habits every day."

Earlier this year, the British number one emphasised how she would not he rushing into getting another coach, having hitting partner Alexis Canter stepping in for the time being. "When things started developing, of course I was aware of the judgment that might follow — questions like, 'Did you make a mistake?' or 'Do you regret it?'" she said.

"But I really wanted to make the decision for myself and in the most authentic way possible. It came from a deeper place. I’m really happy I followed through with it and didn’t get swayed by opinions or judgments. That’s also why I kept it very quiet while it was happening. I didn’t really tell anyone what I was cooking up until it was done. I’m really glad I made this decision for myself. And honestly, the people I have around me right now are amazing. I feel like we’re very like-minded, connected and genuine."

Raducanu's preparation for the event has been less than ideal. Just one match competed on clay in 2026 coming recently at the Internationaux de Strasbourg ended in a straight sets defeat against Diane Parry.

She will take on Solana Sierra who feels at home on a clay court hence her Argentine upbringing. "Yeah, for sure. They don’t dislike clay courts in Argentina," she admitted. "She’s a great player and had a good run last year, so it’s going to be a really tricky first round, especially coming in with not many matches played."

The conditions could play their part in favour of Raducanu as the 23-year-old is set to attempt to continue her 100% first round record in Paris. "But I’m proud of how I’m approaching every day and the work I’m putting in. I know I’ll have to play really good tennis and be aggressive. The conditions feel pretty lively with the hot weather, and I actually think that could help me. I just want to go out there and play on my terms as much as possible."