Emma Raducanu has ended her brief trial period with coach Vlado Platenik after just 14 days and one match. Platenik, the Slovak coach, arrived at Indian Wells on March 5, a day before Raducanu’s first match there. He departed the team right before Raducanu’s match in Miami, which she won 6-2, 6-1 against Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishi. The split came abruptly on March 18, just a few days after they began their partnership.
Raducanu’s Statement on the Split
Raducanu’s team released a statement confirming the split, acknowledging that Emma holds great respect for Platenik and the work they started together. However, they realized that the partnership wasn’t progressing in the right direction. Raducanu is now focused on performing well in the Miami Open after her solid win and will continue searching for the right coach.
The Shortest Coaching Stint
This marks Raducanu’s eighth coach at just 22 years old. Despite initial optimism, the partnership ended abruptly, with no clear explanation given to the public initially, as Platenik was missing from her usual courtside position. In an interview, Platenik had once mentioned the challenges of coaching Raducanu, previously describing the position as “coaching suicide,” which raised questions about the long-term feasibility of the arrangement. The fact that Raducanu’s team had approached him twice before made the sudden departure even more surprising.
Background on Vlado Platenik
Vlado Platenik, at 49 years old, is an experienced coach who has worked with players like Daria Kasatkina and Dominika Cibulkova. Though he wasn’t a flashy or renowned supercoach, many believed he had the experience to help guide Raducanu. However, despite this, the partnership was short-lived.
Raducanu’s Comments on the Split
In an on-court interview after her victory over Ishi, Raducanu appeared to reference the sudden coaching change. She stated that she hadn’t had an easy week but was pleased with her performance, particularly after a tough period where she had lost six of her last seven matches. It seems the instability with her coaching staff might have affected her on-court form, but the win in Miami gave her some much-needed relief.
The Coaching History of Emma Raducanu
Raducanu’s coaching history has been marked by frequent changes. She has had several coaches since her breakthrough win at the 2021 US Open, each bringing different styles and philosophies. Below is a list of her previous coaches:
Raducanu’s Seven Coaches
- Nigel Sears (April to July 2021) – Sears was Raducanu’s first coach after her rise to fame in 2021, but their partnership ended after a short period.
- Andrew Richardson (September 2021) – Richardson worked with Raducanu immediately after her US Open win. However, their collaboration was ended after only nine weeks.
- Torben Beltz (November 2021 to April 2022) – Beltz, a seasoned coach, helped Raducanu during the start of her pro career but was let go after five months.
- Tursunov (July to October 2022) – This was another short-term arrangement, ending after just a three-month trial period.
- Sebastian Sachs (November 2022 to June 2023) – Sachs worked with Raducanu for about seven months, bringing some stability during that time.
- Nick Cavaday (January 2024 – January 2025) – Cavaday was expected to have a longer-term role, but he stepped down after the Australian Open due to health reasons.
- Vlado Platenik (March 5 to March 18, 2025) – This marks the shortest coaching stint in Raducanu’s career, lasting just 14 days.
The Future of Raducanu’s Coaching
Raducanu has expressed that it’s not her intention to continuously switch coaches, describing herself as loyal both on and off the court. Unfortunately, her circumstances have led to frequent changes in her coaching team, with each transition affecting her stability.
The Role of LTA and Childhood Coach
In the absence of Platenik during the Miami Open, Raducanu is receiving support from her LTA coach Colin Beecher and her childhood coach, Jane O’Donoghue. O’Donoghue has been particularly involved, offering guidance throughout the Miami Open and assisting Raducanu with her game, including tactical advice during her match against Ishi.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Consistency
With her first win at the Miami Open under her belt, Raducanu now faces tougher challenges. Her next opponent, Emma Navarro, will present a much more difficult test, with her steady and crafty game likely to provide a more accurate reflection of Raducanu’s current form, both in terms of her tennis and her mental state.
The future for Raducanu remains uncertain, but with the support of her team, she will be hoping to achieve greater consistency and stability moving forward.