Williams sisters' former coach tips Emma Raducanu to send 'shock waves' at US Open

Emma Raducanu has continued to impress in the lead-up to the US Open, despite a narrow defeat at the Cincinnati Open to world number one Aryna Sabalenka. In a match that went all the way to a deciding set tie-break, Raducanu’s resilience drew widespread praise, including from her opponent, despite losing 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-7 (5).

Sabalenka highlighted Raducanu’s impressive performance after the match, acknowledging the British star’s competitive edge, while also pointing out that a single error had ultimately cost Raducanu the victory. Despite this critique, the prevailing conversation around Raducanu remains overwhelmingly positive as she looks to carry her momentum into New York.

At the Cincinnati tournament, Raducanu was guided by her new coach, Francisco Roig, marking their first tournament together. The pairing appears to have been a productive start, with Raducanu now on the brink of being seeded at the US Open. This development comes after a period of rebuilding for the 22-year-old, who won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021 but has struggled to reach another final since.

Rick Macci, the legendary American coach who guided Serena and Venus Williams early in their careers, believes that Raducanu’s challenges since her breakthrough stemmed from losing some of her competitive will after becoming the centre of the spotlight. Macci, who famously helped shape two of the greatest players in women’s tennis, now sees Raducanu regaining that drive.

"Great competitive effort from Emma against Sab[alenka]," Macci wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The secret sauce with a win or loss. She never lost the skill, just the will. Now all about the battle and harder to rattle. Can deliver shock waves in New York by going into each fight with a knife not a fork.".

Raducanu’s US Open history demonstrates both her meteoric rise and the challenges she has faced in sustaining that early success. Her 2021 triumph remains historic, as she became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam, storming through 10 consecutive matches without dropping a set, a feat that instantly marked her as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.

However, the path since that breakthrough has been far from smooth. In 2022, Raducanu was eliminated in the first round by Alize Cornet, a result that highlighted the difficulties of defending a Grand Slam title while managing the expectations and scrutiny that come with sudden stardom. The following year, she missed the tournament entirely due to surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle, setbacks that further interrupted her momentum and raised questions about her long-term durability at the top level.

Returning to New York in 2024, Raducanu faced another first-round exit, this time at the hands of Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin, highlighting the challenges of translating talent into consistent performance at the sport’s highest stage. Looking ahead, Raducanu appears to be in a stronger position than she has been in recent years. With a new coaching partnership with Francisco Roig, she has regained both her competitive edge and confidence, demonstrated by her spirited performance against world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open.

This renewed focus positions her to make a deeper run at the US Open in 2025, with the potential not only to contend for the singles title but also to make an impact in the tournament’s new mixed doubles event alongside Carlos Alcaraz. Raducanu’s upcoming schedule will likely focus on balancing singles competition with this high-profile doubles debut, providing her with valuable match experience and the chance to sharpen her tactical game ahead of the New York major.

If she can maintain her fitness and channel the resilience she showed in Cincinnati, Raducanu has the potential to re-establish herself as one of the most compelling names in women’s tennis.