Coaching Emma Raducanu will be one of the TOUGHEST jobs in tennis, claims Maria Sharapova’s old mentor… after fairytale US Open win creating sky-high expectations around the British star
- Emma Raducanu split with coach Andrew Richardson after US Open triumph
- British star, 18, is urgently searching for a new trainer to work with
- She appealed for a coach with tour-level experience after Indian Wells defeat
- But Maria Sharapova’s former mentor says Raducanu may struggle to find one
- Michael Joyce believes her new coach could be on a hiding to nothing
Coaching Emma Raducanu could prove to be one of the most difficult jobs in tennis despite her fairytale US Open triumph, according to the man who masterminded Maria Sharapova’s sensational rise.
British star Raducanu, 18, won the first Grand Slam of her career in New York last month but then split from coach Andrew Richardson afterwards.
The teenager said she wanted a mentor with more experience on the WTA tour.
Emma Raducanu is looking for a new coach with WTA tour experience after her fairytale victory in the US Open in New York last month
The 18-year-old British player stunned the world by winning the Flushing Meadows Slam
And her urgent need for a new coach was underlined when she crashed out of the Indian Wells tournament to world No 100 Aliaksandra Sasnovich last week.
‘I’d love to have someone with great experience right now by my side so if any experienced coaches are out there looking, you know where to find me,’ Raducanu said afterwards.
‘I want’t joking. If anyone knows any experienced coaches…’
But Michael Joyce, who helped Sharapova win Wimbledon aged only 17 – the first of five Slam triumphs for the Russian – doesn’t expect too many coaches to be knocking on Raducanu’s door.
He told The Sun: ‘I was really surprised with the wording of the statement that was released when Emma Raducanu announced she was splitting with Andrew Richardson, saying she felt she needed someone with Tour-level experience.
Raducanu split with coach Andrew Richardson (left) following her victory in New York
Michael Joyce (left), who mentored Maria Sharapova’s Wimbledon triumph when she was just 17 (right), doesn’t believe coaches will be queuing up to train Raducanu
‘I didn’t like the statement. If you have a good coach and it works well, then you’d think you would want to stick with them. Why would you want a big-name coach?
‘She’s a great player but it’s going to be a tough job for the next coach, as expectations are high.
‘If she goes to the Australian Open next year and goes out early, people will say it’s because of the coach.
‘I’d known Maria for quite a long time before coaching her, as I was her hitting partner. We got to know each other, we were on a journey.
Raducanu was brought back down to earth by an early exit in Indian Wells last week
‘It’s a tough one for whoever comes in and works with Emma as they won’t have that relationship and they will be under a lot of scrutiny.’
Raducanu – who previously worked with Nigel Sears, father-in-law of Andy Murray – had intended to wait until the off-season to find a new coach but the process needs to be accelerated.
Argentine Carlos Rodriguez, former trainer to Justine Henin and Li Na, is the favourite to become Raducanu’s next coach.
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