Emma Raducanu is reuniting with the coach who guided her to one of the most remarkable Grand Slam victories in tennis history. The 23-year-old British star has linked up again with Andrew Richardson, who was in her corner when she stormed through the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier—becoming the first qualifier ever to win a major title.
This reunion comes as Raducanu prepares for a return to the tour at next week's Italian Open in Rome. She recently completed a short training stint at the Ferrer Academy near Benidorm, Spain, where Richardson now serves as tennis director. The academy was founded by former world number three and French Open runner-up David Ferrer, adding a layer of clay-court pedigree to the setting.
Raducanu's team confirmed that the choice to train there was driven by her need to practice on European clay ahead of upcoming tournaments, and her long history with Richardson—who also coached her as a junior—made the academy a natural fit. However, there are currently no plans for the two to work together beyond this brief spell during the clay-court season.
Raducanu is scheduled to train at the Foro Italico in Rome on Saturday, hoping to be fit for the Italian Open. Her last competitive match came at Indian Wells in early March, before a viral illness forced her to miss the Miami Open and opt out of clay events in Linz and Madrid to recover fully.
Since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open, Raducanu has relied on Alexis Canter for regular support. She admitted in Indian Wells that she's open to hiring another full-time coach but expressed reservations about the intense scrutiny that comes with any of her decisions.
The 2021 US Open victory remains a defining chapter in Raducanu's career. Richardson had only replaced Nigel Sears after Wimbledon that summer, but following her stunning triumph in New York, Raducanu and her family opted for an experienced WTA coach, and Richardson's contract was not extended. Now, as she looks to regain form and fitness, a familiar face is back in the picture—at least for a few practices on the red clay of Spain and Italy.
As a seeded player in Rome, Raducanu would receive a first-round bye, meaning she wouldn't play before Thursday. She's due to practice with Germany's Eva Lys on Saturday lunchtime, with an eye on building momentum for the clay season ahead.