It has been reported that Emma Raducanu has started working with the former ATP player Dimitry Tursunov before her appearance at the Citi Open in Washington.
Despite being 19 years old, Raducanu has already gone through a few coaches. She ended her relationship with her last coach, Torben Beltz, in April. The pair had only been working together for five months.
Tursunov last coached Anett Kontaveit. He had a very successful time with the Estonian, who enjoyed the best results of her career under the Russian's guidance.
Kontaveit won five titles while working with Tursunov and was the runner-up at the WTA Finals and the Qatar Open. Her decision to stop working with him last month was surprising.
The 39-year-old also had spells with Elena Vesnina and Aryna Sabalenka. His successful track record makes Raducanu's appointment of him understandable, and it will be interesting to observe whether they are successful.
The Briton previously stated she did not need a conventional coach and was content with her training off the court. Raducanu seems to have changed her mind by appointing Tursunov, which is probably wise.
"I am very comfortable with how I am training right now and I feel like the work I have been doing has been extremely specific in the last weeks. I feel like I don’t really need a conventional-just-this-title: ‘Emma Raducanu’s coach'."
Although Tursunov's record as a coach is impressive, Raducanu's appointment of a Russian will be controversial to some. Russian players compete under a neutral banner due to the country's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
There will be conflicting opinions about the issue in the tennis world. Some think Raducanu should not consider the war in her decision about who her coach is, while others believe a firm stance is needed to show the Russian government their actions have consequences.
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