Emma Radukanu falls short in Queen’s final but feels positive about Wimbledon

Rehiring Richardson seems like a masterstroke.

She has played four tournaments under his tutelage – including the 2021 US Open and this year’s Queen’s – and won 14 of her 17 matches.

Richardson is an old-school coach who brings volume to building good habits — basically, hitting the ball a lot and putting in hard yards.

Known as the ‘gentle giant’, Radukanu says Richardson has a fiery side that ignites the competitive spark in him.

His messaging can be sporadic at times, but the targeted input resonates with a player who loves being challenged by his coaches.

During the second set against Vekic, Richardson could be heard asking Radukanu to return to the middle of the court – dragging his opponent into a long duel which he did not like.

This is a trick that changes the color of the match.

“It’s great to have him back. I think we’ve been working on this style of play. All week I’ve been playing really, really good tennis and the brand of tennis that I really want to play,” Radukanu said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily the old Emma. I think it’s the new Emma.

“You take all the lessons and experiences, all the different ups and downs, and you take it all in. You understand a lot more about what’s going on and what works for you.”

Radukanu has shown that he plays better when surrounded by long-time confidants whom he clearly trusts.

On home turf, with plenty of support from friends and fans, it’s been noticeable how comfortable he’s become – and it’s enabled him to play with the freedom he craves.

This was also evident at Wimbledon where, alongside his fairytale run in New York, he produced the best Slam result of his career.