Raducanu heading in right direction with Nadal's ex-coach in her team for 2026, experts agree
NewsSunday, 23 November 2025 at 14:45
Emma Raducanu could be one of the players challenging for Grand Slams in 2026 after finding much-needed stability in her team.
Raducanu finished the 2025 season inside the Top 30 on the WTA Tour. It's the first time she finished a season that high since 2021, when she won her maiden, and so far her only, Grand Slam title at the US Open.
She struggled a lot in the following years, due to frequent changes in her team and injuries, which made her quite inconsistent. That seemingly changed this season.
Raducanu had some good runs, reaching the Citi Open semi-finals, the Queen's Championships quarter-finals, and the Miami Open quarter-finals. Although she has yet to win another title since that memorable US Open win, she's clearly headed in the right direction.
One of the reasons why Raducanu has managed to steady the ship could be her partnership with Francisco Roig. Roig is an experienced coach who has worked with Rafael Nadal, and he has undoubtedly brought a lot to the table.
Former ATP world No. 4, Tim Henman, also thinks that's the case. He spoke to Sky Sports about Raducanu, pointing out Roig as one of the keys to the British player's success.
"She's moving in the right direction, and I think we all would have agreed in the past that she needs consistency and continuity. Having Francisco Roig in her corner. They have really looked like building a good partnership, and I'm excited that is continuing through into 2026. He has huge experience."
Laura Robson spoke about Raducanu in the same interview. The 2012 London Olympics silver medalist didn't focus on Raducanu's team, but instead on how she looked on and off the court in the closing stages of the 2025 season.
Raducanu appeared to be enjoying her time on the Tour much more, which might be crucial for her success in the 2026 season. She is now in a position to be seeded for Grand Slams and doesn't have to worry about securing wild cards or even qualifying for tournaments.
"I can't imagine how much pressure it felt like for a while there with everyone expecting you to have the same kind of results. It's very, very difficult to back it up when you're healthy, let alone somebody who's coming back from injury woes."
"It's something that we saw at the US Open. It feels like she's a bit more relaxed. She played a bit of golf in New York and just enjoying her time on the court, which is by far the most important thing. You forget how young she is."
Raducanu will most certainly start the 2026 season as one of the dark horses at every big event. She has troubled the current world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, multiple times this year, showing she has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the best.
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