A resurgent Emma Raducanu says her new coach has played a key role in how she is feeling on the court and she believes her game is improving.
The Brit paid tribute to her mentor Francisco Roig after cruising into the second round of the US Open on Sunday. Raducanu dropped just three games against Japan’s Ena Shibahara in what was the quickest Grand Slam match she has played in her career so far (62 minutes). It is the first time she has won a match at Flushing Meadows since winning the title back in 2021.
Raducanu’s victory follows up on a solid North American swing where she reached the semi-finals in Washington and then the third round at two WTA 1000 events. Overall, she has won six out of nine Tour-level matches since Wimbledon and in one of those defeats, she took world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to three sets.
Earlier this month, the 22-year-old made another big change to her team by pairing up with Roig. A former player himself, who is best known for working with Rafael Nadal for 17 years between 2005 and 2022.
“I think the biggest milestones are I put a lot of trust in what I’m doing with Francisco on the
practice court,” Raducanu replied when asked what has been the biggest factor in how she is currently feeling.
“I think we’re just working really well, doing the right stuff on the practice court, and I just feel like I’m
improving.
“To take confidence from what I’m doing behind the scenes and not just have confidence because I have won these matches on the tour.
“I’m doing a lot day to day. It’s going well, and I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying getting better, and the process of
feeling like at the end of the day I’m satisfied I got a little bit better, and just repeating it. I think that’s probably the biggest success and reason to why I feel the way I do right now.”
Roig, who reached a ranking high of No.60 during his playing career, is a coach who can be very vocal while watching matches. Although, how much of an impact is it having on Racuanu whilst she is playing?
“I really don’t hear much at all. It’s so difficult.” She said.
“Even if you’re on the court and looking, you don’t really hear it unless you’re kind of lip-reading.
“I probably don’t take in much of what he’s saying, but I think, when I feel like I really need it, then I will go and look and will understand.
“But for the most part, especially when you’re in a match like today, I felt like I had most things kind of under control on my side of the court. I just want to stay in my zone and keep going with what I’m doing.”
Should she win her next match, Raducanu will reach at least the third round in three out of four Grand Slam events within the same year for the first time in her career.
