Emma Raducanu is back on the practice court with a familiar face as she gears up for the 2026 Italian Open—and for tennis fans, it's a reunion that brings back fond memories. The British star has been training with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to that stunning US Open title in 2021, at the Ferrer Academy in Spain.
After a sluggish start to her WTA season, Raducanu is turning her focus to clay, choosing to prepare for her first clay-court tournament of the year at the academy run by former world No. 3 David Ferrer. It's a strategic move, aimed at finding some rhythm and confidence ahead of Rome.
Richardson, now the tennis director at the academy, worked with Raducanu during her magical run to the 2021 US Open crown. Their partnership was short-lived after that triumph, but this latest training block is a short-term arrangement. Think of it as a focused tune-up rather than a full-fledged reunion—there are no plans for Richardson to coach her through the entire clay season.
Former doubles great Rennae Stubbs weighed in on the move during her podcast, praising the decision. "I think the most difficult job in the world is coaching Emma Raducanu, because she has a very short rope," Stubbs said. "It's a good idea. He did wonders for her to win the US Open. He seems like a very chill guy. Maybe he gets her better than most because he's known her so long, since a young age."
Stubbs added, "I know Emma personally. She's a great young woman, fantastically educated, great to talk to, very smart. But she has to give someone time. I think she knows this guy so well that it might work for her—she'll settle in and stop trying to pretend to be a player she's not."
Looking ahead to Rome, the draw could bring a tough test if Raducanu reaches the third round. Potential opponents include Coco Gauff, Yulia Putintseva, or Tereza Valentova—a familiar challenge, as Gauff ended Raducanu's run at the same tournament last year.
Raducanu is defending 120 WTA ranking points from her fourth-round appearance at the 2025 Italian Open. Last season, she fought through early wins over Maya Joint, Jill Teichmann, and Veronika Kudermetova before falling to Gauff. This time around, with a trusted mentor back in her corner, she'll be hoping for a different outcome on the clay courts of Rome.