Emma Raducanu has arrived in Mason, Ohio, for the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open with a new face in her team-Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francis Roig, who joins the British No 1 coaching team full-time, but this does not mean that she has stopped working with Mark Petchey.
Look, we are very aware that she needs a second coach to get on board, and maybe only one coach, not even me. The only thing I try to do here is trying to facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can, whether I am not concerned or not, it is really not a question that I am worried about. It just means that we try to find something that will be really stable and good for her. Mark Petchey
The US Open Champion and Petchey from 2021 have worked on an informal basis since March and enjoy a positive series of results.
However, Petchey’s TV togations exclude that his ability to become the full-time coach of Raducanu, and after a process with Roig after Wimbledon, the 22-year-old starts working with the Spaniard this week after he agreed to a contract until the end of the year.
Raducanu has difficulty setting up with a coach in recent years, until her part -time work with Petchey started to pay dividends earlier this season and according to reports he will remain as her close confidant.
Roig takes part in the long list of coaches with whom she has worked together since she opened her breakthrough at the US in 2021 while working with Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, Vladimir Plechey.
Although some were only on a test, others were a little longer at Raducanu, but there will be some stability until at least the end of 2025, because Roig will be part of the team for the next 4 months.
Petchey, who works for the tennis canal, has influenced the reduction of the stability that Raducanu needed to rise the ranking.
They started working together in March and enjoyed incredible results when she has climbed back in the top 35 of the WTA rankings, after they started the year at no. 60.
A WTA 1000 quarter -final in the Miami Open in March was followed by a last 16 run on the Italian open before the British No. 1 made the last 8 in the first Women’s Tournament in the Queen’s Club.
While World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka turned out to be too strong for Raducanu in a close meeting in the 3rd round in Wimbledon, this was supported by a semi-final in the Citi Open in Washington, and, at the National Bank Open in Montreal, where she won 2 matches for a one-sided loss before she suffered 2 matches.
Currently ranked no. 33 in the world, Raducanu focuses on the US Open later this month.
Mark Petchey has been a stabilizing influence on Emma Raducanu, who brought her back to No. 33 in the world, and will continue as her confidant as Francis Roig takes over as her full -time coach
© Dan Istitene/Getty Images
“I have a number of other obligations that I can’t get out of,” Petchey said a few weeks ago. “Look, we are very aware that she needs a second coach to get on board, and maybe only one coach, not even me.
“The only thing I try to do here is trying to facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can do, whether it is me or not, it is really not a question that I am worried about.
“It just means that we try to find something that will be really stable and good for her.”
Apparently the discussions between Roig and Raducanu started during Wimbledon and followed a successful trial period, which led to the formal agreement.
Roig collaborated with Nadal in addition to the uncle Toni of the Spaniard for the most of the career of the 22-way Grand Slam Champion, and, more recently, was part of the back room staff of Matteo Berrettini.
A former French Open Doubles quarter finalist who peaked on no 60 in the ATP Singles Ranking, the 57-year-old worked for about a year to October 2024 with Berrettini.
From 2005 to 2022, Roig collaborated with Nadal’s primary coaches, including Toni Nadal, Marc Lopez and Carlos Moya, acting as an alternative coach, and is widely respected for his technical expertise and calming presence.
During his time with the team, Nadal won 22 Grand Slams, including a record 14 French open titles, became World No 1 and was part of the Big Four with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, who had dominated tennis for more than two decades.
With the proven track record of Roig and the undoubtedly talent of Raducanu, fans will look carefully to see how this combination is going on in the coming weeks.
The first assignment from Roig is the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open, which starts on Thursday and where Raducanu will be sown, which means she gets a bye in the 1st round.
Francis Roig, seen here with Rafa Nadal in Roland Garros in 2022, will be the full -time coach of Emma Raducanu, starting with the Cincinnati Open this week
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