Emma Raducanu Reunites With US Open-winning Coach Andrew Richardson

Emma Raducanu has reunited full-time with coach Andrew Richardson, the man who guided her to a stunning US Open triumph in 2021.

The pair are working together this week in Strasbourg as Raducanu prepares for the final clay-court event before the French Open, with the partnership now set to continue through Wimbledon and beyond.

Raducanu first linked back up with Richardson earlier this month during a training block at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain, where the 52-year-old serves as tennis director. What began as a short-term arrangement has now developed into a permanent reunion.

The British number one said she was delighted to reconnect with someone who has been part of her journey for more than a decade.

“[I’m] grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time,” Raducanu said.

Richardson was in Raducanu’s coaching box during her remarkable run to the US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier, when she became the first player in history to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set after coming through qualifying.

However, the partnership ended shortly after that breakthrough success, with Raducanu since working with a number of different coaches and short-term advisors.

The 23-year-old has been without a permanent coach since splitting from Francisco Roig following her Australian Open exit earlier this year.

Raducanu is set to return to competitive action in Strasbourg after a 10-week absence caused by a post-viral infection. Her last match came in March when she lost to Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells.

She has accepted a wildcard into the tournament as she looks to build momentum before the French Open begins on 24 May.

Her spell away from the tour means she has slipped to 37th in the world rankings and is now expected to miss out on a seeded position at Roland Garros.

The reunion with Richardson also represents a return to familiar surroundings for Raducanu, who has often spoken about feeling more comfortable when working with coaches she has known for many years.

Since her US Open victory, questions have regularly been asked about why the partnership with Richardson was not continued. At the time, the split was framed as a natural conclusion to his contract due to commitments in Spain, although Richardson later suggested he would have been happy to stay on.

Raducanu has also previously worked with coaches including Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, both of whom had long-standing relationships with her before taking on formal roles.

Now, nearly five years after her unforgettable New York triumph, Raducanu and Richardson will hope returning to a successful partnership can help reignite a career that has struggled to consistently match its extraordinary start.