"I think it develops the confidence": Emma Raducanu credits coaching staff's role in gameplay after impressive outing at Miami Open

British tennis star Emma Raducanu believes that the impact of her new coaching staff has started to show an impact on the court. The 22-year-old was once regarded as the next big thing after winning the US Open at the age of just 18 back in 2021.

From then on, however, things have remained very difficult for the former world number 10, largely because of fitness concerns. She returned to the court in late 2023 but struggled with consistency. During her struggles on the court, Raducanu also changed multiple members of the coaching staff.

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Raducanu is currently taking part in the Miami Open, where she booked her place in round four after being awarded a walkover in round 32 against America’s McCartney Kessler. After the match, the one-time Grand Slam winner talked to Sky Sports where she stated that the current coaching staff had started to impact her display. She also stated that the biggest thing for her is the fact that she has not suffered any major injuries in the recent past, which is giving her the opportunity to improve different areas of her gameplay.

“I think the main thing is I haven’t had any major injuries which is the biggest struggle I have had in the last few years,” she said. “My body is ok right now. I think also the movement in the corners, getting to a lot more balls, just by kind of practicing it and challenging myself to get to each ball, I think it develops the confidence and hand skill to do something when I am there as well.”

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Raducanu also explained that she would ‘cherish’ the fact that no matter who she played in the next round, she would start as the ‘underdog’. “I am really enjoying it,” she said. “For me I am very happy to have been able to turn my feeling about Miami. I have came here, the last few years, I haven’t won a match, so yea it was definitely a challenge going into the first round. But I am so happy to have been able to kind of build and put together a few good performances in a row and now, whoever I will be playing in the next match, I am sure I would be an underdog. So I am going to relish that.”

Raducanu will next face America’s Amanda Anisimova, who cemented her spot in the last 16 after defeating Russia’s young tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva in the round of 32 with a score of 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.

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