Emma Raducanu reunites with familiar face for Qatar Open after recent coaching split

Saturday, 08 February 2025 at 20:58

Raducanu shouts celebrating a victory at Wimbledon 2024

Emma Raducanu can count on a familiar face during the Qatar Open after reuniting with Jane O'Donoghue in a move that is not really surprising given their previous relationship.

O'Donoughue has often acted as a stand in coach for Raducanu since her emergence and works at the National Tennis Centre for the LTA. She has known Raducanu since she was a junior and also coached her when Cavaday couldn't make it over to Australia last year.

Nick Cavaday coached Raducanu up until recently in her longest coaching relationship since her emergence but he had to step away himself due to health issues. But while she has been steadfast in wanting to play more tournaments, this also means it will be a while until she likely appoints a more permanent coach.

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Whether O'Donoughue finally gets swayed to join more full time remains to be seen but it does add at least in short term a layer of stability which hasn't been seen thus far for Raducanu.

She will open her Qatar Open campaign over the weekend when she faces off against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Then it will be Aryna Sabalenka if she gets through that in a tough start for the Brit.

It is unsure yet whether she will get into Dubai or whether she will head straight to Indian Wells where she gets in automatically as a part of the extended 96 player entry list. Miami if she needed to would likely get a wildcard from IMG her agents. But she is likely to be the same as Indian Wells and getting in automatically.

But if she misses Dubai, this would add time for Raducanu to get her coaching situation fully sorted. She has played Singapore and Abu Dhabi back-to-back since splitting with Cavaday so hasn't realistically had time to find a solution in between.

Emma will work with Jane O’Donoghue in Doha

Emma has worked with O’Donoghue a few times in the past 3 years and they have known each other since Emma was a junior pic.twitter.com/SIyGqmPdke
— Emma Raducanu Fans (@RaducanuNews) February 7, 2025

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