Emma Raducanu has split from coach Andrew Richardson, the US Open Champion announced Friday.
Richardson coached Raducanu at the junior level for two years before teaming up with her again in July. It was meant to be a short-term deal for the duration of her time in the United States, both ahead of and during the US Open.
At the US Open, Raducanu made history when she became the first qualifier to win the tournament.
On Friday, the 18-year-old said she wants to partner with someone who has more experience with the bigger events on the WTA Tour.
“I’m looking for someone who has been at that level and knows what it takes,” Raducanu said. “And especially right now because I’m so new to it, I really need someone to guide me who’s already been through that.”
A former Davis Cup player for Britain, Richardson has little experience with the WTA Tour.
“At the time, I thought Andrew would be a great coach to trial so we went to the States but never did I even dream of winning the U.S. Open and having the run I did,” Raducanu said. “Now I’m ranked No. 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me.”
With nobody in mind as a replacement, Raducanu hopes to make a decision at the end of the season.
Back training, the Grand Slam champion played with the Duchess of Cambridge at a homecoming event on Friday. The event was hosted by the Lawn Tennis Association Youth program. The Duchess is a patron of the LTA.
perfect day for some tennis😍& what an honour, loved being part of the #LTAyouth fun. pic.twitter.com/ChEeLL8bEd
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 24, 2021
“I was actually very nervous playing the duchess – I was like, ‘Don’t miss, don’t miss,'” she said afterward, revealing that she was “very impressed” by Kate Middleton’s skills.
“It was a lot of fun to play tennis with the duchess.”
Raducanu also said she is weighing when to return to the tour, with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells starting on Oct. 6.
“I’ll decide in the next few days where I’m going to go to but, wherever I play next, I’m going to make sure I’m ready,” she said. “I don’t want to jump into things too early.”