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Emma Radukanu insists her split with Andrew Richardson after her US Open victory was not a mistake despite the decision to rehire her.
Richardson coached Radukanu to the US Open title five years ago but that was not enough to keep the British No 1 and his advisers.
Radukanu instead turned to Torben Beltz as he wanted a coach with WTA experience, but that proved to be a succession of short-term appointments, the latest of which saw him partner Francisco Roig in January.
The 23-year-old has been without a permanent coach since then but announced last week that she had reunited with Richardson after a week of training with him at the Ferrara tennis academy in Spain.
Asked if continuing with Richardson was a mistake, Radukanu said:
“I think at the time it was very difficult to say that I was wrong, because everything in my life had been turned upside down, and I didn’t really think that I had handled the situation the most in the sense that I was being pulled left and right.
Raducanu says ‘not wrong’ to join Richardson in first place
“I didn’t really know what was going on. I think everything happened so fast back then. A lot of experiences over the last few years, it’s taught me a lot of things I don’t want, and it’s taught me that I really value the people I trust and connect with around me.
“So it’s really nice to get that feeling back.”
Along with Richardson, Raducanu worked again with former childhood coaches Nick Cavade, Mark Peche and Jane O’Donoghue, which was a recurring theme.
“You probably naturally bond easier with some people than others,” Raducanu said.
“I also think that he has known me since I was very young, and I know that he always wanted the best for me. When you know someone before my success, that makes a little bit of a difference.
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Radukanur’s highlight against Diane Parry recently from Strasbourg
“But, as a coach, I think he really believes in me and he’s someone who doesn’t necessarily get frustrated or stop at results. He’s very consistent, very determined. I’m naturally more emotional in the sense that I want things to happen quickly.”
Radukanu was keen to insist the idea of working with Richardson again only came from him, starting with a leading text message.
We’ve been in touch, but it was just a text, and I was like, ‘Heyyy,'” she said. “When you get a text from me with three years of heyy, know something’s cooking. But then it was really nice. We managed to catch up on some of the lost time.
“When it was kind of developing, of course, in the back of my mind, I’m aware of the judgment that could potentially follow and ‘did he make a mistake? did he regret it’, and all these questions that are being asked.
“But I think that I really wanted to make the decision for myself and in the most authentic way, and it came from a really deep place. So I’m really glad that I followed it and wasn’t necessarily swayed by any opinions or judgments.”
Radukanu is looking for a return to form and consistent fitness
Raducanu will begin her French Open campaign against Argentina’s Solana Sierra on Sunday.
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