The reason for the split between
Emma Raducanu and Francisco Roig has been unveiled by none other than the British number one herself, who confirmed that a different perspective on how to play the game was the catalyst in the pair going their separate ways.
Getting together officially in August after a successful trail period, Raducanu looked to have been settled with Rafael Nadal's former colleague. While the semi-final run at the DC Open was by far the best result she could muster up, consistent wins on court saw her continue to slowly rise up the rankings, officially confirming her spot back in the top 32 in the world.
While this rise was not going unnoticed, there were some tricky points. A tough Asian swing highlighted by squandered match points and injury halted her campaign while a slow start Down Under was not the way she wanted to kick off the year. After losing to Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open second round, more concerns rose about the former US Open champion on whether she would ever get to the level that she had regularly been touted to reach. Shortly after, Raducanu and Roig went their separate ways, with the news being broken on Raducanu's Instagram.
Raducanu offers explanation for end of partnership
Speaking to
Sky Sports News ahead of
Indian Wells, Raducanu opened up on the reasons why the duo were no longer working together.
"After Australia, me and Francis were talking. We have a great relationship, we could have a really open and honest conversation," Raducanu stated. "He ended up saying, 'look, I don't think this is going in the way we both want it to' so he ended it really."
It turned out that it was Roig who pulled the plug on the partnership, seeing a bleak future despite the pair getting on very well. "In a way I think we had a few moments where we weren't agreeing on a few things. Other than that we still maintain a great relationship and I've seen him here, it's been great to a see a familiar, great face around."
Raducanu has been assertive when stating that she wants to play tennis her way, not having someone else tell her how to play it a different way and one that she does not like as much. The 23-year-old has been through nine coaches in her tennis career already, with this being a possible reason for that.
Petchey back in Raducanu's camp
Mark Petchey has already had a whole heap of experience working with the Brit. Most recently working with her last year for a few months, overseeing her run at the Miami Open before watching her put up a very good effort against the world number one Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon. He was forced to halt his coaching spell after Wimbledon due to broadcast commitments.
These broadcasting duties still remain, but outside of that he is going to find the time to give Raducanu some more support. He will be joining Alexis Canter, who has stepped in on a temporary basis for Raducanu since Roig's departure.
Emma Raducanu competing at the 2025 China Open
"Mark was going to be here anyway for commentating and I've been working with Alexis who has been helping me so much," she logically said. "With Mark I knew he'd be in Indian Wells so I asked him to come out a few days earlier just to do some stuff with me on the court and try to feel back in a better way with my game."
This positive relationship between the two is a boost for Raducanu who can call on someone at the last minute to help her out on some aspects.
Confident that she had overcame her early season woes, Raducanu failed to win a match in the first two WTA 1000 tournaments due to a chest infection, halting her progress to a standstill in Doha and Dubai. Overcome that nasty obstacle, the world number 24 is raring to go in California, back to full fitness.
"At the start of the year I didn't feel too good but the last few days I've been feeling better," she confirmed. "It's not something that has really been organised going forward but I knew he would be here and it's been great, I always love being on court with him."
Ignoring the outside noise
With another change in coach will always come more speculation surrounding Raducanu, who it can affect at times when making crucial decisions.
"It is a challenge because I think it affects some of the decisions I make," she said. "I don't want to start working with anyone not knowing if it's going to be 100 per cent set in stone, because I feel like regardless of how or why it ends it will be put on me, even if I didn't end it with Francis."
Prior experience have put her in the right direction when this sort of situation crops up, with it affecting her on court. "It does affect at some points but I know at the end of the day I need to take the decision that's going to make me the best player. By having the experience of spending too long doing something I'm not comfortable doing, it's only effected me and made me feel worse about my tennis. Having gone through that, I don't want to because I know how it makes me feel on the court."
Raducanu will kick off her Indian Wells campaign against Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova following a first round bye with Amanda Anisimova a possible third round matchup.