On May 15, 2026, it was announced that Emma Raducanu, currently the highest-ranked British female player, has once again joined forces with her former coach Andrew Richardson. This collaboration is set to commence immediately, as Raducanu prepares to make her comeback at the Strasbourg tournament following a two-month hiatus due to health concerns.
Raducanu, who made history by winning the US Open in 2021, faced significant criticism after parting ways with Richardson shortly after her remarkable triumph. At that time, the 23-year-old believed that she required a coach with extensive experience on the WTA Tour. Fast forward nearly five years, and Raducanu finds herself returning to a coach with whom she has a long history, amidst a series of short-lived coaching commitments.
Expressing her gratitude, Raducanu stated, “I’m thankful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade, and I’m excited to build together, one iteration at a time.” This decision reflects Raducanu’s trend of gravitating towards coaches she is familiar with and can trust, typically those who were part of her journey before her rapid rise in the tennis world.
In her coaching career, Richardson has now been replaced and reinstated by a series of coaches that includes Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, along with her frequent reliance on Jane O’Donoghue for guidance and support. Speculation about the nature of her relationship with Richardson intensified after the two were seen practicing together at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain last month.
Despite discussions around a potential long-term partnership, Raducanu had previously dismissed the notion of seeking a permanent replacement for her last coach, Francisco Roig, following their split after the Australian Open.
Since the beginning of this year, Raducanu has participated in just four tournaments, reaching her first final after the US Open in Romania earlier in February. Unfortunately, she contracted a virus during her time in the Middle East and Indian Wells, leading to her decision to take time off the tour. Consequently, Raducanu withdrew from several events, including Miami, Linz, Madrid, and Rome. However, she has accepted a wild card to enter the Strasbourg tournament, aiming to get back on clay ahead of the French Open, which kicks off on May 24.
After her recent withdrawals, Raducanu is expected to drop to 37th in the WTA rankings next week, which means she will not be seeded for the upcoming Roland Garros.
