Emma Raducanu

the addict · Tennis legend

Emma Raducanu

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Emma back on instagram after a couple of days off it.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Vladimir Platenik (SVK) to be Emma's next coach - initially, for a trial period, starting with Indian Wells.

Well, that went well! disbelief

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

A trial doesn't mean you have to stick with it. I don't see an issue.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Blue_Belle wrote:
A trial doesn't mean you have to stick with it. I don't see an issue.

Better two weeks than two months if it wasn't going to work out.

emmsie69 · Top national player

Blue_Belle wrote:
A trial doesn't mean you have to stick with it. I don't see an issue.

Nor me, he sounds quite intense. I think Emma is looking for more of a collaboration with her coach. It's a shame there aren't more top Female coaches as I think it would benefit her (and others)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
A trial doesn't mean you have to stick with it. I don't see an issue.
Nor me, he sounds quite intense. I think Emma is looking for more of a collaboration with her coach. It's a shame there aren't more top Female coaches as I think it would benefit her (and others)

I dont think theres an issue as such, if it didnt work, it didnt work. But it seems they dont know what they want in a coach - this guys reputation proceeded him, I think theyd turned him down before (Maybe Im wrong on that). Dad seemed to select him. Youd think thered be a more honed view on what she needs and whats going to fit with her personality etc. Shes a £10m business now and more and selecting a top exec in a business like that tends to need a little bit more prep and consideration, in my experience.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

There would be no problem if this was a one-off

But the 'issue' is that they can't find a coach - they've tried tons and none last more than a few months, and results aren't great - that's an issue

And I think there is far too much emphasis on 'what Emma is looking for'

Emma's Coaching approach:

"I ask my coaches a lot of questions, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

On certain occasions they haven't been able to keep up with the questions Ive asked and maybe that's why it ended.

It's something I've always done. I keep provoking and asking questions to coaches and challenge their thinking as well.

I'm not someone that you can just tell me what to do and I'll do it. I need to understand why and then I'll do it."

Maybe Emma should do what Mirra said clearly, and try simply doing what the coach says for a little while and not saying 'but I'm the sort of person who needs X'. She should hire a coach, with the best advice, and not just from her Dad (as Jon says), with her own best input, and then say: 'right, for the next 6 months, I am going to trust this person, I am going to be a good student, and THEN I will see where I'm at'.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 20th of March 2025 08:39:33 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
There would be no problem if this was a one-off

But the 'issue' is that they can't find a coach - they've tried tons and none last more than a few months, and results aren't great - that's an issue

And I think there is far too much emphasis on 'what Emma is looking for'

Emma's Coaching approach:

"I ask my coaches a lot of questions, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

On certain occasions they haven't been able to keep up with the questions Ive asked and maybe that's why it ended.

It's something I've always done. I keep provoking and asking questions to coaches and challenge their thinking as well.

I'm not someone that you can just tell me what to do and I'll do it. I need to understand why and then I'll do it."

Maybe Emma should do what Mirra said clearly, and try simply doing what the coach says for a little while and not saying 'but I'm the sort of person who needs X'. She should hire a coach, with the best advice, and not just from her Dad (as Jon says), with her own best input, and then say: 'right, for the next 6 months, I am going to trust this person, I am going to be a good student, and THEN I will see where I'm at'.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 20th of March 2025 08:39:33 AM

Spot on!

Shhh · Challenger level

We have no idea what has happened with this arrangement but I'm sure I am not alone in thinking "Oh no....what is it this time!"

Emma is such a talented player, and seems a very nice person to boot but one of the things that holds her back in my opinion is her (and her parents) is how intelligent they are. Always out thinking the system. Yes of course its good to question the norm but there are so many examples of doing things against the accepted wisdom...all with so little results. Its frustrating. Its sad.

That said I like to be a glass half full kind of chap and her attitude was spot on yesterday for that match. If she can take that into her 2nd round match up it could be interesting. Just like following football.....its the hope that kills you :)

indiana · Tennis legend

I recall early days her her father saying she didn't need a long term coach, it was picking up the good bits from coaches and moving on. Even back then I thought - really?? and wondered about his influence. It's remained a concern, while I admit I don't really know at all his true influence ( just read the ongoing snippets) or if say he is trying to be too clever by half and encouraging Emma's constantly questioning approach.

At what stage do so intelligent Emma and Dad realise that this 'reinventing the wheel' approach isn't working and a highly talented player isn't progressing? - a ruddy US Open champion at 18 yo so hardly seemed to need to have a radically different approach.

christ · Futures level

It appears to me that the "issue" is that Ms Raducanu doesn't _need_ to win. She has made enough money to retire, and has won a Slam. She is never going to be world number one, so there aren't really any more objectives for her.

She appears happy with a career that involves only playing when and where she wants; actually winning matches (let alone tournaments) doesn't seem to figure in her objectives. I can't say I blame her: there is no pressure on her, she doesn't need the money and her fame is self-sustaining so she can just enjoy the travel, the attention, and the experience.

Coaches, on the other hand, have an irritating tendency to think that winning is the objective, not an optional "nice to have".

Var · Satellite level

I think it is worth noting here that Nick Cavaday did a sterling job to get Emma back into the top 50/60. To me that was a real achievement. Interestingly the Brit coaches that she seems to have done best with coached her in her junior days. So I say she needs another Brit coach that coached her in juniors, who maybe knows her ways and lets be honest, is able to handle her father as I think that may be where the issues are. If this doesnt happen then a Katie/Alex type of steady relationship, might cut the cord for good. Sorry if that is a bit controversial but it is coming from a female!

-- Edited by Var on Thursday 20th of March 2025 01:13:27 PM

-- Edited by Var on Thursday 20th of March 2025 01:44:28 PM

Var · Satellite level

This to me is a really interesting read. Review by Platenik, as to areas for improvement in Emmas game. Not sure if she has done the right thing ditching him so soon.

Emma Raducanus axed coach: Her footwork was very poor but she improved.

www.thetimes.com/article/8931a3d2-02f3-41fd-b757-3a5f5e3f31be

HarryGem · Club Coach

Var wrote:
I think it is worth noting here that Nick Cavaday did a sterling job to get Emma back into the top 50/60. To me that was a real achievement. Interestingly the Brit coaches that she seems to have done best with coached her in her junior days. So I say she needs another Brit coach that coached her in juniors, who maybe knows her ways and lets be honest, is able to handle her father as I think that may be where the issues are. If this doesnt happen then a Katie/Alex type of steady relationship, might cut the cord for good. Sorry if that is a bit controversial but it is coming from a female!

-- Edited by Var on Thursday 20th of March 2025 01:13:27 PM

-- Edited by Var on Thursday 20th of March 2025 01:44:28 PM

I'm going to disagree here. I think any half decent coach could have got Emma back into the top 50/60. She had basically no points to defend. Not saying he's a bad coach but she's basically an elite player who has lost her way and been injured. A top level coach comes in and immediately notes her footwork isn't great and that with small adjustments to her serve she could improve that too.

I'm sorry Cavaday is ill and I'm not trying to be disrespectful but it was clear to me that whilst he might have stabilized Emma she was at best treading water and not really progressing.

I think right now she's possibly not in the best place, emotionally and mentally which is hardly surprising given the dreadful stalking incident..

There has to come a time though when they try to stick with a coach, one with a top reputation who maybe says things she doesn't like. Sometimes the best coach isn't your best friend all the time?