Emma Raducanu was unable to continue her good form at the US Open after being beaten by Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina beat Raducanu, 6-1 6-2, to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in her career.
This is the second time that they have played one another, with Raducanu admitting she finds playing Rybakina tougher than Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu was particularly impressed by two things Rybakina did against her, but the former US Open champion has now been told what she should have done differently.
Rick Macci tells Emma Raducanu the mistake she made against Elena Rybakina
Rick Macci knows what it takes to help make players great, as the childhood coach of both Serena and Venus Williams, and he has also worked with Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick and Jennifer Capriati.
When analysing Raducanu’s defeat to Rybakina, Macci claimed that the Briton needed to be more committed to her shots.
Macci went on to suggest that Raducanu’s hesitation to do so played right into the hands of former Wimbledon champion Rybakina.
He wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Emma picked up the wrong playbook against Rybakina. She was looping/chipping and should have been ripping.
“Sure you have to sprinkle in the chips loops and a drop but she needed to pull the trigger and go bigger. When Elena has time she can hit on a dime. Gave her confidence and she never felt tight and then it was Goodnight.”
What Macci has said about Raducanu is supported by the statistics, as she only hit eight winners compared to Rybakina’s 23.
Raducanu also hit 18 unforced errors, which is only one less than her Kazakhstani opponent.
Will Emma Raducanu continue working with Francisco Roig after the US Open?
This was the first Grand Slam tournament since Raducanu added Francisco Roig to her team, the coach who was part of Rafael Nadal’s team for 17 years.
Raducanu’s coaching changes have been very public since she won the US Open title in 2021, but she revealed in her post-match press conference that they are planning to work together until at least the end of the 2025 season.
“Yeah. Right now we’re working through to the end of the year, and I’m looking forward to just getting back to work really,” said Raducanu.
“It’s only been three weeks, but I think it’s been a pretty successful three weeks in the sense of we’ve made good improvement, and I think there are certain parts of my game which have gotten better for sure.
“Today, you know, my weaknesses were highlighted, but I think, you know, it’s only been three weeks and he can’t really work miracles, you know. So I know we’re doing good work, and I just look forward to continuing.”
Roig is unlikely to be with Raducanu for her next scheduled tournament, where she will represent Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China.
Raducanu will then play her first WTA tournament of the Asian swing at the China Open, which begins on Wednesday, September 24.
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