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Raducanu reaches highest ranking since 2022
Britain's Emma Raducanu has risen to world No. 24, her best position in nearly four years, as she works to reclaim the aggressive playing style that defined her 2021 US Open triumph.
Coaching changes and self-discovery
Raducanu, 21, told BBC Sport she is focusing on rediscovering her instincts after a string of coaching partnerships-seven full-time coaches in total-left her questioning her natural game.
Her latest split came in January after clashing with Francisco Roig over playing style at the Australian Open. The Spaniard became the latest coach to attempt reshaping her approach, a strategy Raducanu now resists.
"I've had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn't necessarily fit. I want to come back to my natural way of playing," she said.
Emma Raducanu
While open to another full-time coach, Raducanu is cautious about the scrutiny they'd face and the pressure to commit even if the partnership isn't working. Instead, she's seeking input from trusted figures on a flexible basis.
Mark Petchey's role and recent progress
Former Andy Murray coach Mark Petchey has stepped in this week at Indian Wells, where Raducanu is competing. Petchey, who worked with her last spring during a clay-court season that included a fourth-round run in Rome, is assisting on a day-to-day basis.
Raducanu credits Petchey with helping her regain comfort on court, though she hasn't outlined long-term plans. Alexis Canter, her current hitting partner, remains part of the team but takes a secondary role when Petchey is present.
Canter was with Raducanu during her semi-final appearance in Washington last summer and her recent final in Cluj-the second of her career.
Health and next challenge
After early exits in Doha and Dubai due to a chest infection, Raducanu arrives at Indian Wells healthy. She faces qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the second round on Friday, following a first-round bye.
A full week of practice in the desert conditions has prepared her for the tournament, where she aims to climb higher by trusting her instincts over rigid coaching directives.
Revisiting her US Open breakthrough
Raducanu's 2021 US Open victory, achieved as a teenage qualifier, was built on fearless aggression-taking returns early, dominating with deep serves, and overpowering opponents off both wings. Since then, she's struggled to replicate that freedom, reaching the second week of a Grand Slam only once.
Recent attempts to remodel her forehand, including Roig's approach, eroded her confidence. At the Australian Open, she made 19 unforced errors off that wing in a second-round loss, later vowing to return to simplicity: "hitting the ball hard and to the corners."
Physical and mental hurdles
Beyond technique, Raducanu must rebuild her fitness and resilience. Wrist surgery sidelined her for most of 2023, and she acknowledges that durability and mental toughness will be key to challenging the sport's elite.
Her goal remains a return to the top 10, but the path forward hinges on balancing structured support with the freedom that once made her a champion.
