'That's what it needs': Emma Raducanu aims to use Francisco Roig's 'bank of experience' to improve against big names

Emma Raducanu heads into the Cincinnati Open with a potential collision course with fellow Brit and also occasional doubles partner of times gone by, Katie Boulter and she also has a new coach in tandem.

Raducanu has a first round bye in Cincinnati and faces either Boulter or the dangerous Serbian, Olga Danilovic but it will be a continued learning curve for the former US Open champion as she has had good form but now approaches a new stage.

She has added Francisco Roig to her team famed for working with 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal as well as in tandem with such coaches as his uncle Toni Nadal throughout his illustrious career. So when it comes to experience in big stage moments and massive games, it is Roig who perhaps could be the one to turn to.

It is perhaps expected and also unexpected. Raducanu has long had an informal agreement since March with Mark Petchey. The former coach of Andy Murray, he has added a new life to the Raducanu game and has fixed gaps in her game to make her more well rounded.

But something remains that hasn't been fixed and that is beating the big names. She has often struggled albeit nearly got there against Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek among others. She said that is a direct thing she wants to sort with Roig. But also with Petchey, it is uncertainty. He has television commitments with Tennis Channel and ESPN so while he is mooted to remain involved, especially during the US hard court swing he puts his other work first. But Roig is now employed until the end of the year.

"It's going really well," Raducanu said of the new partnership. "It's my second day with him here, but I did a few days in London before I came out here.

"He's obviously got a bank of experience; I'm very excited to continue working with him and to have him on my side." I'm working on the quality of my shots and to be better. Against the very top, that's what it needs. It needs to improve. I'm going to try and be pretty patient but I'm hoping with time that will improve."

For Raducanu though it is the start of a part of the year where she admits there is little pressure on her due to the fact that she is not defending hardly any points from earlier in the season.

Raducanu didn't play for the back end of the 2024 season really apart from Seoul as she duly notes and so as a result she is sounding out goals but with less expectations. The Brit said that she is aiming to be seeded for the Australian Open and aiming to just feel like she has less gaps in her arsenal. Can Roig help her achieve that time will tell? It all begins this week.

"I'm very happy to be here in Cincy and feeling good about everything overall," Raducanu added. "Last year I didn't play so much after Wimbledon, but I have a few points to defend in Seoul. It's great to have this much of the year left and not much to defend.

"I think the goal for the rest of this season is to be seeded for Australia [in January] and, honestly, results aside, it's just to improve the feeling I have on the court - to feel I have less holes, and to feel like I can step on court and match pretty much anyone. That's the goal, but I think it's going to take a lot more time to do that."