Raducanu Seeks Instinctive Style as She Considers Coaching Options

Emma Raducanu says she wants to rediscover her natural playing instincts as she continues her search for the right coaching setup ahead of the Indian Wells Open in California.

The 2021 US Open champion revealed she plans to consult several advisers rather than immediately appointing a full-time coach after parting ways with Francisco Roig earlier this year.

Roig became the seventh full-time coach Raducanu had worked with before their partnership ended after the Australian Open due to disagreements over her playing style.

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Raducanu Wants Her Natural Game Back

The British number one admitted she has spent too much time adjusting to instructions from different coaches and now wants to reconnect with the style that originally brought her success.

“Right now, it’s more about bringing my instincts back out, getting back in touch with myself,” Raducanu said.

She added that constant direction from multiple voices had taken her away from her natural game.

“I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit.”

Raducanu believes returning to her instinctive approach will take time because some of those instincts were “coached out” of her over the years.

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Petchey Steps In to Help

Former coach and tennis analyst Mark Petchey has been assisting Raducanu during practice sessions at Indian Wells.

Petchey, who once coached Andy Murray early in his career, previously worked with Raducanu on an informal basis last season.

He joined her team during the Miami Open in 2025 when she reached the quarter-finals and continued supporting her through the clay-court season, including a fourth-round run at the Italian Open in Rome.

Raducanu said she enjoys working with him.

“I work really well when I’m with him. I’m really happy to be on the court and just really enjoy it overall.”

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Looking to Recover After Difficult Middle East Swing

Raducanu heads into Indian Wells hoping to bounce back after a challenging Middle East swing where illness disrupted her form.

She failed to win a match at the Qatar Open in Doha and the Dubai Tennis Championships due to a chest infection.

Now fully recovered, the world number 24 will face Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.

Raducanu believes the key to improving her ranking lies in trusting her instincts again — playing the aggressive tennis that made her a Grand Slam champion as a teenager.