How ‘free spirit’ Raducanu is thriving without coach

Emma Raducanu admits to never being afraid to “do things a little bit differently.”

The British number two’s inclusion in the WTA 1, 000 quarter-final without a full-time coach makes for brand-new feeling.

By defeating American 17th seed Amanda Anisimova on Monday, Raducanu won the Miami Open for the fourth time in a row.

The 22-year-old has won that many matches in one tournament for the first time since the 2021 US Open, when she clinched a fairytale victory as a teenage qualifier.

According to Raducanu, who is ranked 60th in the world, “I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit, so I don’t need to be told what to do.”

“I believe that when I’m being really authentic, I’m playing at my best,” he said.

Raducanu regularly adheres to what she believes is best for her, whether it be winning a Grand Slam championship as an unknown rookie, working with a carousel of coaches, or changing her schedule to fit her needs.

Although it doesn’t always turn out well, she continues to hold onto her beliefs.

On the eve of this tournament, Vladimir Platenik and I made another decision that was initially unplanned.

However, her move seems to have paid off with her run on the faster courts in Miami, which is a flattering surface for her style.

Raducanu has a freedom and self-assurance that have only improved since her stunning US Open success.

According to Raducanu, “I feel when I’m boxed into a regimented way that I can’t express myself in the same way.”

Mark Petchey, a well-known player in British tennis circles who worked with her as a teenager, has guided her throughout her time in Florida.

Petchey, who previously trained Andy Murray for his salad on the ATP Tour, has been providing coaching advice from Raducanu’s box on the practice courts.

Petchey and Yutaka Nakamura, Raducanu’s long-time ally, have been working together.

What Raducanu refers to as a “different approach” has resulted in shorter, less intense warm-up sessions and shorter periods of enjoyment.

“This week has been a great eye-opener to when I’m happy and expressive and myself,” Raducanu said.

The reasons behind Raducanu’s chopping and changing of coaches have varied, and there is good evidence of this.

After splitting with a fifth coach in two years, Raducanu argued that her “provoking” and “challenging” questions in some way contributed to the high turnover.

The Briton turned to childhood coach Nick Cavaday as a hero when she recovered from wrist and ankle surgeries in 2024.

He provided stability and a reliable sounding board, but his relationship with him abruptly ended in January as a result of his health issues.

Some people are still unsure whether Raducanu even needs a full-time coach despite the fact that her father, Ian Raducanu, hired Platenik.

Rare are instances of players without a coach engaging in long-range competition. Nick Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final, is one of the recent winners.

The controversial Australian responded to Raducanu’s run by calling coaches “overrated” and never missed an opportunity to be provocative.

Where are all the experts now, people, awfully quiet, saying Raducanu is winning? posted on X by Kyrgios.

The company’s representatives describe Petchey as a “familiar face” who is offering “support” when he balances his work as a television commentator with his role in Miami.

However, how long the agreement will last is unclear.

Tim Henman, a former British number one who has advised Raducanu over the years, thinks Petchey’s involvement “makes sense” because he is familiar with “Emma’s game.”

Henman, who will serve as vice-captain at this year’s Laver Cup, said, “It’ll be interesting to see how long it lasts for.”

Emma has stated in a fairly open interview that she finds it difficult to switch coaches.

I began playing tennis professionally at the end of 1992 and finished in 2007. I had three coaches.

Given the number of injuries and issues she has dealt with since winning the US Open, questions about Raducanu’s resilience have been frequently raised.

Additionally, this season was difficult. Before atraumatic stalking incident in Dubai and Cavaday’s exit, her back injury pre-season interrupted her.

Some of the skeptical people were pleasantly surprised by her brutal defeat of world number 10 Emma Navarro in the second round in Miami.

McCartney Kessler and Anisimova, who were both physically hampered, were both swarmed with steel by her.

Raducanu acknowledges that she has lost some of her “competitive spirit” over the past few months and even for a few years.

Whatever she decides to do in Florida, keeping up her level over time is something she has lacked to do so far.

Henman points to Raducanu’s improved durability as a result of her playing more tournaments, despite losing six of her nine matches before the Miami Open.

More than she has in the first three months of the season, Raducanu has competed in seven events this year.

She will re-enter the top 50 for the first time since August 2022 after Miami.

Henman said, “It’s simple to look at the results, but I’d rather look at the course of the tournament,” which is a big, big positive.