British tennis star Emma Raducanu says she plans to seek advice from several people as she tries to rediscover her natural playing style.
The former US Open champion remains open to hiring a full-time coach. However, she wants someone who supports her instincts rather than controlling how she plays.
Raducanu ended her partnership with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open earlier this year. The split came after the two disagreed about her playing style. Roig became the seventh full-time coach in Raducanu’s career.
The British number one explained that she wants to reconnect with the way she naturally approaches the game.
She said many coaches had given her different instructions in the past. According to Raducanu, those ideas did not always suit her style.
Now she wants to trust her instincts again and play with more freedom.
Careful Approach to Hiring a Coach
Raducanu also admitted she feels cautious about bringing in another full-time coach. She believes anyone joining her team will face intense public scrutiny.
Because of that pressure, she worries about feeling forced to continue working with someone even if the partnership does not feel right.
Despite this concern, Raducanu said she still hopes to find a coach who understands her game and supports her decisions on the court.
Mark Petchey Provides Temporary Support
Former coach Mark Petchey is currently helping Raducanu during training.
Petchey, who previously coached Andy Murray, works as a broadcaster for the Tennis Channel. His job brought him to Indian Wells, where he agreed to assist Raducanu on a short-term basis.
The pair also worked together last year during the Miami tournament, where Raducanu reached the quarter-finals. Petchey remained part of her team during the clay-court season as well.
Raducanu said she enjoys working with him and feels more comfortable on the court when he is around.
Preparing for Indian Wells
Raducanu has spent a full week training ahead of the Indian Wells Open in California.
She will face Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
The world number 24 hopes to bounce back after a difficult Middle East swing. She failed to win a match in Doha and Dubai after suffering from a chest infection.
Now fully recovered, Raducanu wants to focus on playing aggressive tennis again.
She believes the key to climbing the rankings is trusting her instincts, taking the ball early, and hitting strong shots toward the corners of the court.
