"I feel we just work in the same way": Emma Raducanu says childhood coach Nick Cavaday understands her when others don't

Emma Raducanu explained the reasons for returning to work with her childhood coach, Nick Cavaday, after her surgeries. The 21-year-old tennis player has made constant changes to her team since the beginning of her career.

After 2021, even before winning the US Open title, Raducanu has undergone constant coaching changes, which for many could be one of the reasons behind the British player's difficulties in establishing herself definitively among the best on the WTA Tour.

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The former world No. 10 partnered with Cavaday, her coach from junior days, marking her 8th coaching change in three years. Raducanu explained the decision to resume working with Cavaday: “I mean I’ve known him for a long time so it’s the familiarity aspect, it’s very nice,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “I feel we just work in the same way.”

“I think a lot of coaches wouldn’t really understand the way that I like to operate and a lot of players wouldn’t understand how he likes to operate so I think we’re very complimentary of each other,” she added.

With only five tournaments under her belt, Raducanu has showcased a commendable level of play, even though she hasn't secured consecutive victories yet. The former Grand Slam champion is currently competing in Indian Wells and advanced to the second round after a convincing win against Rebeka Masarova (6-2, 6-3). Her next challenge will be against the 30th seed, Dayana Yastremska.

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Raducanu's coaching changes

After her unexpected fourth-round run at Wimbledon in 2021, Raducanu decided to part ways with Nigel Sears and hired Andrew Richardson, with whom she won the US Open just two months later. However, two weeks after her triumph at Flushing Meadows, she dismissed Richardson and began working with the Spaniard Esteban Carril.

After a few weeks, she hired the experienced Torben Beltz for the 2022 season (who previously coached Angelique Kerber to her first Grand Slam title). However, their collaboration lasted only three months, and in April, she worked with Iain Bates from the British Federation, shortly before hiring the Russian Dmitry Tursunov (former coach of Sabalenka).

At the end of the season, Sebastian Sachs arrived, who had previously worked with Victoria Azarenka and Belinda Bencic, but they parted ways in mid-2023. Finally, Raducanu hired her current coach, Nick Cavaday, with whom she hopes to find stability throughout 2024.

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Emma Raducanu during practice with coach Nick Cavaday in Melbourne

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