Emma Raducanu has recorded an up-and-down start to her 2026 season on the WTA Tour.
The Briton kicked off her campaign at the United Cup, where she played just one match: a defeat to Maria Sakkari .
She was knocked out in the third round of the Hobart International before suffering a second-round exit at the Australian Open.
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Following her disappointing run at Melbourne Park, Raducanu parted ways with her coach, Francisco Roig, whom she had been working with since last August.
The 23-year-old has not yet appointed a new head coach, a decision former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski thinks may benefit her.
Greg Rusedski weighs in on Emma Raducanu’s coaching change
In an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg‘, Rusedski said: “I remember Roger Federer going through a period by himself without a coach, and it was possibly the best thing for him. He figured out certain things for himself and took ownership of it.
“We saw her [Raducanu] in Romania get to the finals. Yes, she did not perform as well as she would like in the finals.”
Raducanu reached the final of the Transylvania Open in Romania after the Australian Open, where she was beaten by Sorana Cirstea.
Rusedski continued: “She had [Alexis] Canter there, who was hitting the week before, and he’s a young guy who goes out with her who hits the balls and does the drills.
“So she has got to figure out herself and figure out the relationship where she sees eye to eye with the coach with how she wants to play out there.
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“With Mark Petchey she was playing more aggressive and going after it. She played really well at Wimbledon losing to Sabalenka in the right manner.
“That is where she has got to have the right mindset with the coach in terms of how she has to play, what her techniques need to be on the court and have that clarity.
“So, a little bit of time away without a coach right now, someone who is just hitting with her, might be a real positive until she finds someone who she is on the same page with week in and week out, because she has not found that person yet. Hopefully she does.
“On top of that, the expectations for her are just so massive. The problem is she has won the US Open, which is the hardest thing to do for any players, and then she gets to the final in Romania and everyone is talking about how she lost the final.
“Getting to a final or a semi final is fantastic. I don’t care if it’s a 250, 500 or a 1000. It was a very good week for Emma. Let’s give her some credit.”
How Emma Raducanu has performed on the Middle East swing
After a positive tournament in Romania, Raducanu’s Middle East swing started with a first-round exit at the Qatar Open.
She faced Camila Osorio in her opening match at the WTA 1000 event, and took the first set against the Colombian convincingly, 6-2.
After going ahead, though, Osorio forced a decisive third set, during which Raducanu retired as she was battling with a chest infection.
Raducanu called the trainer out to have her blood pressure taken during the match, and forfeited after going 2-0 down in the third set.
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