"It was a crucial time for me to get in sync with my new coach" - Emma Raducanu on why she snubbed Billie Jean King Cup responsibilities for the Korea Open

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu has built a reputation of cycling through coaches during her short career on the WTA Tour. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the former Grand Slam champion exercises caution when dealing with new mentors.

Raducanu experienced her breakthrough in 2021, when she won the US Open as a qualifier. After reaching a career-high ranking of World No.10, the British star struggled with form due to frequent injuries and coach changes, leading to her suffering a significant dip in the WTA rankings.

However, the 22-year old appeared to undergo a resurgence of sorts earlier this year, after working with LTA coach Mark Petchey on a trial basis. Raducanu would add Francisco Roig, who has worked with Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, to her coaching team prior to the US Open, and has seen an improvement in her game since their collaboration.

Following the US Open, where Raducanu lost to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the third round, the British star opted to skip representing her country at the Billie Jean King Cup. Instead, Raducanu chose to participate at the Korea Open, where she is the eighth seed.

The 2021 US Open champion opened her campaign in Seoul with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Romanian Jacqueline Cristian. The match experienced a delay due to inclement weather, but an emotional Raducanu was able to secure victory.

Following her win over Cristian, Raducanu was asked why she opted to participate at the Korea Open in lieu of joining her compatriots to represent her country at this week's Billie Jean King Cup.

"It was a truly difficult decision," began Raducanu. "I love the BJK Cup so much, and last year, I gave it my all despite the difficult circumstances (a draw against the British team). However, the Korea Open was a crucial time for me to get in sync with my new coach, Francis.
"Even though it was the end of the season, I felt it was more important to work with an experienced coach ahead of the Asian swing. I wanted to prioritize working with him and further developing myself. Having the opportunity to develop with such an experienced coach was the main reason I decided to participate in the Asia Series, starting with this Korea Open."

Furthermore, Raducanu admitted to feeling good after her opening round victory. The British star has withdrawn during the last two editions of the Korea Open, but hopes to leave Seoul with good results. Awaiting her in the next round is two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova.