Emma Raducanu Ends Coaching Partnership With Nadal’s Former Coach Francisco Roig

Emma Raducanu has announced that she has split with coach Francisco Roig after what has been a turbulent start to the 2026 season.

The decision brings an end to a six-month collaboration that began during the US Open swing last year. The partnership showed flashes of promise, with Raducanu producing some encouraging performances, but ultimately, physical burnout contributed to her 2025 season ending prematurely and her 2026 campaign starting poorly.

Raducanu’s Statement on the Split

In a statement on social media announcing the separation, the 2021 US Open champion wrote:

“Francis, thank you for our time together. You have been more than a coach to me, and I will cherish the many good times we spent together on and off the court. While we have come to the conclusion together that we ought not to move forward, please know that I am very grateful for all you have taught me and fond of our time shared.”

Tensions Behind the Scenes

Roig, who was famously Rafael Nadal’s second coach for much of the former World No.1’s career, is expected to return to coaching quickly, having hoped for a longer tenure with Raducanu.

However, the partnership appeared strained from the beginning of the year. Reports pointed to differences of opinion during the off-season, particularly around technical changes. Raducanu was reportedly reluctant to alter her forehand as Roig had suggested, later making public that the change was “not something that I really wanted to happen”, despite eventually implementing it.

Raducanu’s Ongoing Coaching Carousel

For Raducanu, the search for a long-term coach continues, more than four years after her miraculous US Open triumph.

Since parting ways with Andrew Richardson, under whom she won the title in New York, she has now hired and split with seven different coaches. The list notably includes Mark Petchey, under whom she arguably played her best tennis since the US Open run. However, Petchey was unable to commit to a long-term role due to his television and commentary obligations.

It is also worth recalling that back in 2022, Dmitry Tursunov publicly suggested there were certain “red flags” that came with coaching the Brit, who has now gone through five coaches since their split.

For now, Raducanu’s focus will be on improving her physical condition and rediscovering mental clarity after a disappointing start to 2026, which saw her exit the Australian Open in the second round. Her next scheduled appearance is expected to come at the WTA 250 tournament in Transylvania, as she begins yet another reset in her career.