Emma Raducanu appoints Rafael Nadal's former ally as coaching role takes yet another twist

Emma Raducanu has hired Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig until the end of the year. And the former US Open winner plans to start working with the Spaniard in Cincinnati on Wednesday. The British No.1 had been working with her former coach Mark Petchey on a part-time basis since March, but Petchey has extensive media commitments during the US hardcourt season and so Raducanu has sought an alternative.

Talks with Roig started during Wimbledon and the pair then underwent a trial period. Roig, 57, acted as a backup coach to Nadal from 2005 to 2023 and last worked with Italian player Matteo Berrettini. Raducanu dropped down to world No.38 in the live rankings after her defeat in the third round of the Canadian Open last weekend and needs to get back into the top 32 to be seeded at Flushing Meadows.

The young Brit has gone through seven full-time coaching partnerships since winning the US Open four years ago. Finding a permanent match has proven difficult, but she showed tangible signs of improvement while working with Petchey.

Last month, Petchey admitted that a permanent coaching role would be out of the question due to his TV commitments.

"I think at the moment we are a bit more short-term," he said. "Our situation is a little fluid at the moment. I am going to help her this week as much as I can. I have some other commitments I can't get out of.

"We are very aware she needs a second coach to come on board and maybe just one coach, not me, as well. All I am trying to do is facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can.

"Whether that involves me or does not involve me is not a question that I'm worried about. We are just trying to find something that will be stable or good for her."

Raducanu will be hoping for a productive start to her partnership with Roig, who experienced plenty of success during his time on Nadal's team.

He previously offered an insight into his coaching methods, explaining that he helped Nadal to make the most of his game when the Spanish icon was playing through pain.

"There were many periods when he couldn't work as hard as he would have liked because of physical problems," he told L'Equipe. "We made sure that all his movements gradually resulted in less energy being expended when he hit the ball.

"The more time passed, the more demanding he became of himself in training. Quality eventually took precedence over volume, but it was rare to see him finish sessions satisfied."

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