"You can't keep changing coaches" - Tennis expert speaks on Raducanu's quest for a new coach

British tennis star Emma Raducanu recently fired her coach Torben Beltz after a brief five month partnership, and the decision to look for a third coach in under a year is a worrying sign, according to tennis expert Barry Cowan.

After winning the US Open last September, Raducanu made a shocking decision to fire coach Andrew Richardson. The British No.1 cited her desire to find a more experienced tour coach as the main reason for her decision. She would subsequently hire Beltz at the end of the 2021 season, as the German tennis coach had guided Angelique Kerber to Grand Slam titles and a World No.1 ranking.

However, Raducanu and Beltz would part ways five months into the new season, and Cowan believes this could hamper Raducanu's overall progress.

"Jokingly it’s like she started to do better so maybe a new coach was required!” Cowan told Sky Sports. “That’s kind of been the theme with Emma since Wimbledon. I think it’s a worry. I have consistently said that what I’ve felt Emma needs is someone in her corner consistently. She is not able to have that.

“Moving forward it will be interesting to see who she works with. At this stage of any player’s career they are the most important years and the years when you need a consistent voice off the court and also on the court.

Emma is not going to have that at the moment because she is looking for a new coach."

Furthermore, Cowan advised Raducanu to take her time in choosing a new coach, as constantly changing coaches would have little long-term benefit.

"Anyone who is not involved in the sport would think that’s a bit strange, she’s looking for a new coach," added Cowan. "Most importantly, whoever she hires next this really does need to be someone who is with her for a long period of time because you can’t keep changing coach.

“You can maybe get away with it once or twice but you can’t keep changing coaches every four or five months and think long term that’s going to be a benefit”.