EMMA RADUCANU hopes to draw on the “bank of experience” that Rafa Nadal’s former guru has garnered during a stellar coaching career.
Yet she accepts she will have to remain “patient” as she works on improving the “quality of my shots” in those clutch moments against the elite.
Four years ago, the then 18-year-old went to New York and dramatically won the US Open title on her debut and as a qualifier.
Since then, she has struggled to find consistent form, suffered multiple injuries and undergone three surgeries, which wiped out the second half of the 2023 campaign.
There is hope that, aged 22, she can fight her way back to the top and the next ambition is to squeeze into the top-32 seeding spots for this month’s New York Slam.
Hooking up with Spaniard Francisco Roig, 57, is a real coup and with time, their partnership could transform her into a proper player.
Though she has developed a reputation for hiring-and-firing coaches, Raducanu hopes Roig – who worked alongside Nadal’s uncle Toni from 2005 to 2022 and was part of all 22 of the Spaniard’s Grand Slam victories – will be the difference.
Speaking ahead of the Cincinnati Open, Raducanu said: “It’s going really well.
“It’s my second day with him here. But I did a few days in London before I came out here.
“He has obviously got a bank of experience and I am very excited to continue working with him and to have him on my side.
“I am working on the quality of my shots to be better. You know, against the very top that is what it needs. It needs to improve.
“So I am hoping that with time, it does. I am pretty patient. I am going to try and be pretty patient but hopefully that will improve.”
Raducanu lost to Iga Swiatek twice this year at the Slams – the Australian Open and French Open – and was then beaten by world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Wimbledon.
The plan was always to have someone full-time in her camp and her team talked with Roig during the grass-court season.
A trial in London went well and the first time they could work together was ahead of this week’s Ohio event.
Mark Petchey will remain by her side – Raducanu is good pals with his daughter Myah – but more as a consultant and friend, given his ongoing and lucrative TV work.
The Kent star is seeded 30th in the draw and will face either British No.2 Katie Boulter or Serbian Olga Danilovic in round two.
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