Emma Raducanu’s coach questioned over ‘mind-boggling’ decision ahead of Wimbledon | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu‘s decision to rekindle her partnership with Andrew Richardson has undoubtedly been a successful one. The young Brit reached her third WTA final at Queen’s Club earlier this month, eventually losing at the hands of Donna Vekic. In spite of that defeat, it was a hugely positive campaign for Raducanu as she builds up her grass game ahead of Wimbledon.

The one-time US Open champion recently decided to re-appoint Richardson as her coach, having initially axed him following her triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2021. She went through a huge number of coaches without success before asking Richardson to return to her inner circle.

John Lloyd, the former British number one, has now cast doubt over whether Richardson should have accepted that offer, given what happened after Raducanu won the US Open five years ago.

“Well, I mean, no one else has said this, so I’ll probably get in trouble… but to be honest, if I was Andrew Richardson, I would have thought long and hard accepting to come back,” said Lloyd in an interview with Tennis365.

“After what happened at the US Open… that, to me, was mind-boggling. And then she comes back to him when she needs help.”

Lloyd went on to put his opinions aside to wish Raducanu well, admitting that he wants her to flourish under the guidance of her returning coach.

He added: “But whatever, that’s another topic, and that’s for them to see that they’ve worked it out, and they’re fine. I just hope that she sticks with him and gives him a fair chance.”

Reflecting on Raducanu’s large number of failed coaching partnerships, Lloyd likened her situation to that of a certain English football team.

“I said at one stage it was like Watford of having a revolving door of coaches,” he commented. “It doesn’t work. So hopefully, there will be a bit of longevity here.

“Andrew’s very good at what he does, he’s had big success with her and she obviously feels comfortable. No idea why it ended in the first place. That was the most illogical thing I’ve seen for years.

“But they’re back now, so that’s the main thing, and she played great [at Queen’s], and she’s going to move up those rankings. She’s damn good.”

Raducanu will be hoping to find some much-needed stability alongside Richardson, having gone through nine different coaches over the last five years.