By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 29, 2025
Photograph credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Emma Raducanu’s US Open run hit a roadblock on Louis Armstrong Stadium right this moment.
In a conflict of Grand Slam champions, Elena Rybakina rolled Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes to cost into the US Open fourth spherical for the primary time.
Afterward, Raducanu clarified her partnership with new coach Francisco Roig, who coached Rafa Nadal for a number of years.
The 22-year-old Briton mentioned she is dedicated to working with Roig till a minimum of the top of the 2025 season.
Regardless of right this moment’s lopsided defeat, Raducanu mentioned their three-week partnership has been “fairly profitable” and she or he’s trying ahead to getting again to work with Roig.
“Yeah, proper now we’re working by to the top of the yr. I’m trying ahead to simply getting again to work actually,” Raducanu mentioned. “It’s solely been three weeks, however I believe it’s been a fairly profitable three weeks in a way that we’ve made good enhancements.
“I believe there are particular components of my recreation which have gotten higher for positive. As we speak, you already know, my weaknesses have been highlighted, however I believe it’s solely been three weeks, and he can’t actually work miracles, you already know. So I do know we’re doing good work, and I simply sit up for persevering with.”
The 57-year-old Spaniard was a long-time teaching member of Nadal’s workforce, later coached Matteo Berrettini and has expertise teaching on the WTA Tour as effectively. Roig, who reached a career-high rank of No. 60 on the ATP Tour, additionally coached 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Roig succeeded Mark Petchey, who had been teaching Raducanu on a casual foundation for the reason that Miami Open. Tennis Channel analyst Petchey had agreed to work with Raducanu by the top of the grass-court season, however couldn’t decide to teaching her full time due to his tv commentary obligations.
Working with Petchey, who beforehand coached Andy Murray, Raducanu registered a few of her greatest ends in years.
In her temporary tenure with Roig, Raducanu has labored the huge serve on the deuce facet successfully to arrange her first strike and has tried to unfold the courtroom together with her photographs. Moreover, Roig has tried to comply with the Petchey mannequin of making certain Raducanu has enjoyable with the method. Raducanu has shared photographs on social media of her enjoying soccer and golf with coach Roig.
The problem for the 2021 US Open champion is working correctly on the follow courtroom with out over-training and operating the danger of harm.
“I believe with me I need to prepare, like, so much, and I follow various hours, however I believe on the identical time it will possibly put a variety of put on on my physique,” Raducanu mentioned. “So I believe now I’m doing an excellent job. Fairly sturdy and match total for essentially the most half. I’m not getting injured.
“However that’s the place I must be reined in, and I would like the folks round me to type of pull me again and say, We’ve finished sufficient. That’s how I type of handle my load, as a result of I at all times need to do extra and follow extra and play and compete extra too.”
