Emma Raducanu officially reunites with US Open-winning coach ahead of comeback | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu has reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to her historic 2021 US Open title. The British No. 1 enjoyed a brief training block with Richardson last month, but initially had no plans to continue their partnership long-term. However, Raducanu has now reached an agreement with Richardson, and they will start working together at the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg, where the 23-year-old is set to return to competition.

Raducanu had been without a coach after parting ways with Francisco Roig in January. She has since been travelling with her hitting partner, Alexis Canter, and physiotherapist Emma Stewart. The world No. 30 also sought some informal guidance from another ex-coach, Mark Petchey, while in Indian Wells back in March.

After adding Richardson back into her team, Raducanu said: “Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time.” He is expected to remain in her team for the French Open, Wimbledon and beyond.

Richardson previously started coaching Raducanu just weeks before the 2021 US Open, shortly after she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a wildcard ranked outside the top 300. But she had worked with him since she was 11 years old.

But just a couple of weeks after she made history in Flushing Meadows, becoming the first qualifier ever to lift a Grand Slam title, Raducanu ended her partnership with Richardson, seeking someone with more WTA Tour experience.

The Brit’s coaching decisions have attracted attention ever since, from stints with well-known names like Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursunov, to partnerships with familiar faces like Petchey and Nick Cavaday. But she has come full circle after agreeing to work with Richardson again.

In recent years, the former US Open champion has favoured having trusted figures in her team, who knew her before her historic Major win. And the 52-year-old will hopefully be a calming presence for Raducanu, in what has been a season of uncertainty.

Her pre-season was wrecked by a foot injury, and she only started playing points days before her first match of 2026 at the United Cup. She then parted ways with Roig shortly after going out in the second round of the Australian Open.

While they had a good relationship off the court, Raducanu had spoken of a disconnect in how she was currently playing and how she wanted to be playing. And a viral illness has now kept her out of competition for more than two months.

Raducanu reached the final of the Transylvania Open in February, but seemed to become unwell during the final. She pushed on for the Middle East swing, but retired during her opening match in Doha and lost early in Dubai. Raducanu then won a round in Indian Wells but lost to Amanda Anisimova and has not played since, missing tournaments in Miami, Linz, Madrid and Rome.

The world No. 30 had headed to Rome in hopes of playing the Italian Open, but withdrew after completing some practice sessions and pre-tournament media duties. She is now set to return at the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg with Richardson by her side, before heading to Paris for the French Open.

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