"Go back to Andrew" says two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin on Raducanu coaching search

Emma Raducanu cut ties with her coach Andrew Richardson following her unexpected triumph at the 2021 US Open.

The news created shockwaves in the tennis world with many analysts not understanding the reasoning behind the decision. Raducanu herself explained that her relationship with Richardson was only on a trial basis despite the huge success at US Open. She then opted for someone who has more experience on the WTA Tour with the new coach yet to be announced.

Two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin has her own thoughts on the matter and she shared them recently:

"I just put myself in Emma’s shoes and I kind of know what it feels. Everything just comes at you so quickly. All of a sudden now everybody wants a piece of you, they want demands on your time, they want a photoshoot here. We saw that she went to the Met Gala afterwards, she went to the James Bond premiere over in London."

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While the sudden change in Raducanu's life is expected it might have had a bit of a negative impact on her career. The Brit returned at the BNP Paribas Open and lost in her first match back wihtouh winning a single set. Grand Slam hangover is a very real thing and Raducanu is experiencing it right now.

On the coaching thing, Austin said:

"She fired her coach. That’s not something I think that she should have changed quite yet because there’s too many changes already. I think the foundation is so important – your family, your agent. Max Eisenbud is her agent, he’s been through it with Maria Sharapova who won at 17 so I think that should be helpful."

She further said:

"I’d say go back to Andrew Richardson, I saw them at the US Open before each match, they seemed to have a nice camaraderie. She needs something that was the same as what she had at the US Open, everything around her has changed, so the parents need to try and help her find that foundation again."

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