“Her belief has always been the coach is there for a short-term“ - Cowan on Raducanu
WTA
Emma Raducanu is a player known for her quick changes in her coaching team, and according to a former player, it comes from her beliefs about coaching partnerships.
The British player has worked with multiple different coaches in her career, especially after her win at the 2021 US Open. Raducanu's coaching changes became known to the tennis world, with many surprised about how quickly she changed coaches.
Most recently, she parted ways with Dmitry Tursunov. Although Raducanu has a history of parting with coaches quickly, it was once again surprising how fast their partnership ended.
Barry Cowan, who is the former ATP World No. 162, who currently works as a tennis analyst, spoke to Sky Sports about Raducanu's coaching decisions.
"I wasn't surprised in the end because I sort of felt with the stages of where they were at in terms of Raducanu's tennis and Tursunov in terms of his coaching, he had just come out working with Aryna Sabalenka and Anett Kontaveit ahead of Wimbledon."
According to Cowan, who knows Raducanu's career well, the British player's belief was always that coaches should stay in the team for a short period before moving on.
"We're back in a position where Raducanu has been for a few times for most of her tennis career. This is what she likes and this is what she wants. Even before that as a junior, her belief has always been the coach is there for a short-term, so it's probably time to take stock and work on her fitness a couple of months before the new season."
"Jez Green is a great appointment and in my opinion one of the top trainers. From my understanding, it's only short-term because he still has commitments with Thiem so it's something she will have to get sorted out as well as a coach."
Sill, Cowan believes that Raducanu needs someone who will be able to help her long-term. She's still only a teenager, which is why she needs proper guidance.
"She needs someone to help because she's only 19 and you don't know everything about the sport at that age. Only Raducanu can make that decision rather than a suggestion from another person saying 'what about that person' because if Raducanu doesn't believe in that person then ultimately it's going to fail."
