Emma Raducanu Severs Ties with Coach Francisco Roig Following Australian Open Setback
British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has confirmed the termination of her coaching arrangement with Francisco Roig, a decision that comes in the wake of her disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open. The split, which concludes a six-month partnership, follows Raducanu's straight-sets defeat to Russia's Anastasia Potapova in Melbourne, a match that prompted the former US Open champion to voice concerns about losing her fundamental tennis "identity."
Raducanu's Search for a Renewed Playing Style
In the aftermath of her loss, Raducanu delivered pointed remarks that hinted at underlying dissatisfaction with certain tactical instructions from Roig's camp. The 23-year-old expressed a strong desire to "re-evaluate" her approach to the game, emphasising a need to return to the aggressive, early-strike style that characterised her play during her junior years. "I think I want to be playing a different way," Raducanu stated. "The misalignment with how I'm playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on."
She elaborated further, noting: "At the end of the day, I just want to hit the ball to the corners and hard. I feel like I'm doing all this variety and it's not doing what I want it to do. I need to just work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger. I always just changed direction, took the ball early, and went for it."
A Statement of Gratitude Amidst Professional Divergence
Despite the apparent strategic disagreements, particularly regarding forehand technique where Roig advocated for a longer swing versus Raducanu's preference for a shorter, earlier contact point, the parting appears amicable. Raducanu shared a heartfelt message on social media, writing: "Francis, Thank you for our time together. You have been more than a coach to me and I will cherish the many good times we spent together on and off the court. While we have come to the conclusion together that we ought not to move forward, please know that I am very grateful for all you have taught me and fond of our time together."
Roig, a respected figure in tennis coaching circles having been part of Rafael Nadal's team for 16 Grand Slam triumphs, joined Raducanu's setup in August 2025 ahead of the US Open. Their collaboration initially showed promise, with Raducanu enjoying a resurgent 2025 season that saw her climb back into the world's top 30 rankings.
The Ongoing Coaching Carousel for the British Number One
This latest development marks yet another chapter in what has become a revolving door of coaching appointments for Raducanu since her stunning US Open victory as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021. Her decision not to retain Andrew Richardson after that historic win set a pattern of short-term partnerships:
- Torben Beltz was dismissed after just six months.
- Dmitry Tursunov raised concerns about "red flags" following a brief trial.
- Sebastian Sachs lasted only 10 matches before Raducanu's 2023 wrist and ankle surgeries intervened.
- Nick Cavaday, a former childhood coach, worked with her throughout 2024 but stepped down after last year's Australian Open due to health reasons.
- Slovenian coach Vlado Platenik was dismissed after a mere 14-day trial period.
The most successful recent partnership came with coach and commentator Mark Petchey, under whose guidance Raducanu reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Miami Open. However, Petchey's television commitments prevented him from committing to a full tour schedule.
Looking Ahead to New Challenges
Raducanu is now expected to compete at the Transylvania Open in Romania, her father's homeland, beginning on February 1st. This will mark her first appearance at the indoor hard-court WTA 250 event since 2021. As she prepares for this tournament without a permanent coach, the British number one faces the ongoing challenge of finding a long-term coaching solution that can help her recapture the form that made her a Grand Slam champion and establish consistency at the highest level of women's tennis.
The search for a new coaching partnership continues, with Raducanu's comments suggesting she seeks someone who can help her rediscover and refine the aggressive baseline game that brought her initial success, rather than introducing excessive variety that may have diluted her natural strengths.
