Raducanu’s Revolving Door: Latest Sacked Coach “Absolutely Surprised” by Exit After Just Two Weeks

Emma Raducanu’s coaching carousel continues, with her most recent split from coach Vladimir Platenik leaving the veteran tennis mentor “absolutely surprised” after a mere two weeks. This latest change marks yet another chapter in Raducanu’s search for the right coaching fit, a quest that has seen her work with a succession of trainers in a remarkably short period.

Platenik Voices Surprise, But Wishes Raducanu Well

Following his abrupt departure from Raducanu’s camp, Vladimir “Vlado” Platenik has broken his silence, expressing surprise at the timing of the decision. In an exclusive report by Simon Briggs for The Telegraph, Platenik revealed that Emma Raducanu initiated the split. “Emma said she wanted to pause the collaboration. I understand that she is under a lot of pressure, and it’s not easy for her, so I respect her decision,” Platenik stated.

Despite the short-lived partnership, Platenik had anticipated working with Raducanu through the French Open in late May. “I wish I had more time with her, but that’s sport,” he said, adding, “Emma is super talented and I hope she could take some of my advice for the future. I wish her all the best.”

Platenik also shared his positive impressions of Raducanu’s progress during their brief time together, focusing on improvements to her serve and footwork.

A Swift End to a Trial Partnership

The collaboration between Raducanu and Platenik began just before the Indian Wells Masters tournament. Raducanu suffered a first-round defeat there against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, with Platenik observing from her camp. However, Raducanu admitted afterward that they “had yet to start any proper work”.

The announcement of their separation came after Raducanu’s first-round victory at the Miami Open. A statement from her team read: “Emma and Vlado have parted ways. Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started, but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction. Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”

Raducanu’s Coaching History: A Whirlwind of Changes

Raducanu’s search for a consistent coaching partnership has been a prominent narrative throughout her professional career. Some of the coaches she has worked with include:

• Nigel Sears: He was in her corner as she made her first significant strides in the game. Their partnership ended shortly after Wimbledon 2021, where Raducanu retired due to breathing difficulties.
• Andrew Richardson: He coached Raducanu during her historic US Open victory in 2021.
• Torben Beltz: Raducanu spoke warmly of him, but they parted ways after a few months.
• Dmitry Tursunov: Another short-lived partnership.
• Sebastian Sachs: He was part of her team until earlier this year.
• Nick Cavaday: Raducanu’s 14-month partnership with Cavaday ended in January due to Cavaday’s health issues.

Platenik’s Initial Hesitations and Eventual Praise

Interestingly, Platenik had previously turned down opportunities to coach Raducanu, even calling the prospect “coaching suicide” in an interview with Slovak newspaper Dennik N. He cited the pressure and high expectations surrounding her after her 2021 US Open win as reasons for his initial reluctance. “Emma also approached me in a similar situation right after a great success (winning he 2021 US Open), which is why I said it could be coaching suicide,” Platenik said. “But now she is in a completely different position. She’s already gone through hell, she’s already been through the worst.”

Despite the abrupt end to their partnership, Platenik has been complimentary of Raducanu’s abilities and potential. He noted her rapid learning ability, stating, “I never had a player who improved as fast as Emma… We had a hard but good eight or nine days of practice.” He also praised her performance in her Miami Open first-round match, saying, “It was a very clean match technically and tactically.”

Platenik believes that if Raducanu continues to build on the areas they worked on, she has the potential to return to the world’s top 20.

Raducanu’s Next Steps

With the Miami Open underway, Emma Raducanu is once again without a permanent coach. She is currently accompanied by long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue and LTA coach Colin Beecher in Miami, but neither is expected to take on a permanent role. As she continues her search for the right coaching fit, the tennis world will be watching to see who Raducanu chooses to guide her career next.