EMMA RADUCANU hooked up with the coach who guided her to US Open fairytale glory as she prepares for her comeback to pro tennis.
Andrew Richardson was by Raducanu’s side when she won the New York Slam in 2021 on her debut, without dropping a set, having come through qualifying.
When she returned home after that unprecedented success, the pair went their separate ways.
And Raducanu went on to hire-and-fire a succession of different tutors over the next four-and-a-half years as she struggled for consistent bouts of fitness.
Yet the 23-year-old spent a few days last week at the Ferrero Tennis Academy – named after former world No3 David Ferrer – in Villena, Alicante.
And according to her team, following her “long history” with Richardson, she felt it was a “good option” to work with him as she begins her return to training and clay preparation.
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It is not believed that this will be the start of a long-term collaboration given she has been without a coach since splitting from Francis Roig after the Australian Open in January.
It could be a coaching pit-stop in the same way she has worked ad-hoc with long-term friend Mark Petchey, who is a regular tennis analyst on TV.
Raducanu – who was back in London this week at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre – has not played since getting thrashed 6-1 6-1 by American Amanda Anisimova on March 8 at the Indian Wells Open.
The Brit withdrew from tournaments in Miami, Linz and Madrid and for the first two, she cited the after-effects of a viral infection she suffered while out in the Middle East.
But the world No27 is due to practice with German Eva Lys on Saturday afternoon at the Italian Open in Rome.
This is an important event for her world ranking as she is defending Last-16 points from 2025.
And she would want to be one of the top 32 seeds for the French Open, which begins in Paris on Sunday, May 24.
Away from the court, Raducanu signed a mega-money deal in February with Japanese firm Uniqlo, Roger Federer’s main clothing sponsor.
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