Emma Raducanu is the most exciting talent in international women’s tennis. With her sensational US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier, the Brit took hearts by storm in September 2021. Their meteoric rise, their aggressive game and a touch of glamor combined to lead to the highest expectations of a glorious career.
But the question of how she would cope with her new role was also exciting. Just 12 days after winning the title, Raducanu made a surprising decision to part ways with coach Andrew Richardson. A few weeks later she signed Torben Beltz from Germany, who had previously looked after Angelique Kerber in three episodes for twelve years.
Beltz led Kerber to two Grand Slam titles
Raducanu gave British media their new situation on the WTA tour as the reason. “I feel like at this stage of my career, where I’m playing against the best players in the world, I really need someone who has WTA Tour experience at a high level.”
Beltz has this experience in abundance. He led Kerber to two Grand Slam titles in 2016 and also coached Croatian Donna Vekic quite successfully for two and a half years.
Difficult personnel decisions in early years
But the split from Richardson, with whom she had worked since she was 11, was tough, Raducanu said. “It’s difficult to have a conversation like that, with everyone.”
It is one of the great challenges of the tennis business to make such serious decisions as a young adult. They hire and fire trainers, some of whom are many years older. It is unclear at Raducanu how much influence parents and management had. But the sporting consequences are ultimately borne by the player.
Wilander and Shriver are skeptical
Criticism of the decision was not long in coming. Mats Wilander argued that too much outside influence could harm the development of young players. “Raducanu has to have fun, she has to be allowed to do what she wants next to and on the tennis court”, said the seven-time Grand Slam winner to “Eurosport”. “She should only listen to herself. We have to let these children grow up before we try to mold them.”
The American Pam Shriver, former world number three, Raducanu predicted a difficult 2022. “It was such a sudden, unnatural step from qualifying to winning a Major – never done before – followed by all these new business partnerships, recognition and coaching changes. I feel like everything else around them has changed, and as As a teenager you go through a lot of changes.”
Many advertising contracts, little success
Both can certainly feel confirmed in their fears. Since her US Open triumph, Raducanu has signed many lucrative endorsement deals and completed photo shoots, but has only won 7 out of 17 games. She never got past the third round.
And the collaboration with Beltz is already over. “He has a big heart and I enjoyed the good chemistry between us,” Raducanu added to Tuesday’s (04/26/2022) release announcement. However, she wants to switch to a new trainer because she feels it will be most conducive to her development.
Mouratoglu criticizes the rapid change of coaches
Rapid coach changes are common on the women’s WTA tour – and for star coach Patrick Mouratoglu one of the reasons why there is hardly any continuity at the top of the world. “To reach a high level and be consistent there, you need consistency, every day”, said Mouratoglu in October 2020. The Frenchman has been coaching Serena Williams since 2012 and led her to ten Grand Slam titles. For almost three weeks he has also been training the Romanian Simona Halep, who was first in the world rankings in 2017 and is currently ranked 20th there.
“You have to believe in your coach and the process”, says Mouratoglu. “You have to accept when it’s slow, but you feel it’s going in the right direction. Every time you have a new coach, he comes up with new ideas, you start over.”
Ricardo Piatti favorite for a coaching position
It remains unclear to what extent Beltz even had a chance to lead Raducanu to success in such a short time. After all, the now 19-year-old is going on the WTA tour for the first time ever and was also slowed down by a corona infection. In the previous season, she had initially concentrated on her school-leaving certificate before she delighted the British fans with her completely surprising round of 16 entry at Wimbledon.
By the way, she changed coaches after her coup and parted ways with Nigel Sears, Ana Ivanovic’s ex-coach. Ricardo Piatti is now the favorite for the coaching position, the 63-year-old Italian had last worked with Jannik Sinner. Raducanu might also opt for a flexible model with multiple trainers for different surfaces. One thing is certain: Raducanu’s career is still under close scrutiny.