At a stage in her career where consistency often defines greatness, Emma Raducanu finds herself once again under the spotlight, not for a breakthrough win, but for the uncertainty surrounding her coaching setup and recent withdrawal from the Miami Open.
The 2021 US Open champion has experienced a turbulent start to the 2026 season, marked by fluctuating performances and ongoing injury concerns. Her campaign included a Round of 32 exit at Indian Wells, where she was defeated by Amanda Anisimova, followed by her withdrawal from Miami due to a lower back issue and illness.
Amid this uncertainty, tennis legend Martina Navratilova has offered candid advice, emphasizing the importance of stability in Raducanu’s coaching decisions. Speaking during the Miami Open, Navratilova highlighted the challenges of frequent changes behind the scenes.
“I mean, I don’t know what’s the record for a coach– maybe six months! So, I wish that she would really pick whoever she wants to be her coach carefully and then stick with it,” Navratilova said.
Her remarks reflect a growing concern within the tennis community about Raducanu’s pattern of short-term coaching relationships. Since her historic Grand Slam victory, the British star has worked with multiple coaches, struggling to establish a long-term partnership that could anchor her development.
Navratilova further explained why patience is key in such relationships, adding:
“Give it a year because it takes a while to be comfortable with making changes and being able to incorporate the person into your game. The biggest thing I see, I think she could get fitter, which the coach has nothing to do with, but you know, the coach can only do so much. Pick the right coach and stick with him or her, please!”
Raducanu’s most recent full-time coach, Francisco Roig, parted ways with her after the Australian Open. Interestingly, Roig has now joined forces with Iga Swiatek, adding another layer of intrigue to Raducanu’s evolving support team. Prior to Roig, Raducanu had worked with several notable names, including Andrew Richardson, who guided her to her US Open triumph as well as Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursunov. Despite flashes of promise, none of these partnerships have translated into sustained success.
However, Raducanu herself has offered a different perspective on the situation, explaining the complexities behind committing to a single coach long-term. “I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised, even if it’s a trial. I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it’s not necessarily the right decision,” she said in an interview.
Her comments shed light on the intense scrutiny that surrounds her career, where every decision on and off the court is closely analyzed. This pressure, she suggests, can make it difficult to experiment and find the right fit without external expectations influencing the process.
Raducanu also acknowledged that multiple inputs over time have impacted her playing style.
“I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit. I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit.” Currently, Raducanu is operating without a full-time coach, instead working with her hitting partner Alexis Canter and physio Emma Stewart. This setup reflects a more flexible, player-driven approach as she attempts to regain control over her game and direction.
Despite recent struggles, there are signs of progress. Her ranking has improved over the past two years, and she showed encouraging form in 2025 with strong runs in tournaments like Washington and Miami. More recently, she reached the final in Cluj-Napoca in early 2026, indicating that her potential remains intact. Still, the road ahead appears pivotal. With her career at a crucial juncture, the decisions Raducanu makes now particularly regarding coaching stability, could significantly influence her trajectory.
As Navratilova’s advice echoes across the tennis world, the message is clear: talent alone is not enough. In a sport where margins are fine and competition relentless, building the right foundation off the court may be just as important as performance on it.
