Emma Radukanu contacted US Open winning coach Andrew Richardson before returning to tour

Raducanu missed March’s Miami Open due to a viral illness and pulled out of clay court events in Linz and Madrid to fully recover.

This meant his last appearance at Indian Wells in early March.

Raducanu has relied on Alexis Kanter for regular support since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open.

He told Indian Wells that his mind was “open” to the possibility of appointing another full-time coach, but expressed reservations about the scrutiny that would come with any of his choices.

When Radukanu won the 2021 US Open without dropping a set in the 18-year-old qualifier, Richardson was in the coaching box.

She was only replaced by Nigel Sears after the summer’s Wimbledon, but Radukanu and his family decided after her stunning win in New York that an experienced WTA coach was needed and Richardson’s contract was not extended.

Raducanu will train with German player Eva Liss in Rome on Saturday lunchtime.

As a selected player, he will receive a first-round bye and therefore won’t have to play before Thursday.

There are also WTA tournaments in Strasbourg and Rabat the week before the French Open, which kicks off the clay-court season and starts on May 24.