Emma Raducanu, ranked 131 in the world, has only participated in 10 WTA matches this year.
Her agent has stepped in to defend her frequent changes in coaching staff, following criticism over her approach.
The young 20-year-old player, who was crowned the US Open champion at 18 in 2021, has collaborated with five different coaches over the last two years.
Max Eisenbud, the senior vice-president of IMG, communicated to The Tennis Podcast that the strategy has proven beneficial for both Raducanu and her father, Ian.
“This could very likely be the ongoing trend for her career. It suits them,” he expressed.
Eisenbud emphasized that it’s not a matter of right or wrong, but rather their chosen approach. “It’s perfectly fine to adopt a different method,” he said.
Raducanu commenced her career under Nigel Sears, who parted ways after she made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021. Following that, Andrew Richardson steered her to a historic win at Flushing Meadows.
In November 2021, Torben Beltz took the helm but exited in April 2022. Dimitri Tursunov, his successor, cautioned about “red flags” and prospective issues if Raducanu continued to heed multiple advice sources.
Sebastian Sachs was her most recent coach, from whom she separated last month.
Raducanu underwent surgery in May on both wrists and an ankle and is unlikely to return to the court until later this year.
Eisenbud branded Raducanu’s coaching changes as a ‘carousel of coaches’ that has been an effective strategy since her junior career.
“All coaching matters are managed by Emma and her dad,” he stated.
Their style involves short-term coaching stints, which has always worked for them.
Eisenbud compared their philosophy to that of Richard Williams (father of Venus and Serena) and Yuri Sharapova (father of Maria), both of which differ from the norm.
He pointed out that the pool of excellent coaches is small and many prefer not to be away from their families for 35 or 40 weeks a year. This leads to the same few coaches being continuously recycled, hence the frequent changes.
Eisenbud recognized that Raducanu may face challenges in finding a replacement for Sachs.
He observed, “Some coaches may hesitate given her track record.”
Although unconventional, he stressed that if Raducanu’s primary concern is changing coaches every few months, he’d gladly accept that scenario.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Emma Raducanu’s coaching changes
How many coaches has Emma Raducanu worked with in the past two years?
Emma Raducanu has worked with five different coaches over the past two years.
Who is Emma Raducanu’s agent and what does he think about her frequent coaching changes?
Emma Raducanu’s agent is Max Eisenbud, the senior vice-president of IMG. He defends her frequent changes in coaching staff, stating that it has been beneficial for both Raducanu and her father, and suits their preferred approach.
Who was Emma Raducanu’s first coach and who guided her to her victory at the US Open?
Emma Raducanu started her career with Nigel Sears. After Sears’ departure, Andrew Richardson stepped in and guided her to her historic victory at the US Open.
What did Dimitri Tursunov warn Emma Raducanu about?
Dimitri Tursunov, who replaced Torben Beltz as Raducanu’s coach, warned about potential issues if Raducanu continued to heed advice from too many sources, referring to these as “red flags”.
Why did Emma Raducanu undergo surgery and when is she expected to return to the court?
Emma Raducanu underwent surgery on both her wrists and an ankle in May. She is expected to make a return to the court later this year.
How does Max Eisenbud compare Emma’s coaching strategy to others in the sport?
Max Eisenbud compares Emma and her father’s coaching strategy – of short-term stints with coaches – to the distinct philosophies of Richard Williams (father of Venus and Serena) and Yuri Sharapova (father of Maria), stressing that it’s perfectly fine to adopt a different method.
What challenge does Eisenbud foresee for Emma Raducanu in the future?
Eisenbud predicts that some coaches may hesitate to work with Emma given her track record of frequent coaching changes, thus it might be challenging for her to find a suitable replacement for her most recent coach, Sebastian Sachs.
More about Emma Raducanu’s coaching changes
- Emma Raducanu’s Grand Slam Victory
- Emma Raducanu’s Player Profile
- Coaching Changes in Tennis
- Importance of Coaching in Tennis
- Tennis News
7 comments
just imagine being a coach and getting a call from raducanu’s team lol! high risk high reward I guess.
Can’t wait for Emma to return to the court, miss watching her play. Hope her recovery is going smooth.
Emma and her dad seem to have a system that works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Excited to see her back on court!
The girl is only 20, I think everyone needs to give her a break. Changing coaches is not a crime!
it’s just like any other job in the world, people change roles, people change teams. why should tennis be any different? raducanu has her strategy and it’s been working for her, so why not.
eisenbud makes a good point about coach recycling. Not enough quality coaches willing to travel for the year. Interesting to think about…
wow… Emma’s changed a lot of coaches, hasn’t she? maybe it’s good for her though, keeps things fresh and new ideas flowing.