Emma Raducanu is searching for an eighth coach of her playing career after the British No. 2 parted ways with Vladimir Platenik following an unsuccessful two-week trial.
The 22-year-old has struggled to find a replacement for long-term mentor Nick Cavaday, who stood down for health reason following this year’s Australian Open.
Platenik stepped into the role ahead of the recent Indian Wells Masters, where Raducanu suffered a first-round elimination at the hands of Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, but the 49-year-old Slovakian was absent for Raducanu’s straight-sets victory against teenager Sayaka Ishii in the Miami Open on Wednesday.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer >
“Emma and Vlado have parted ways,” Raducanu’s spokesperson confirmed.
“Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction.
“Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her a solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”
World No. 60 Raducanu has also previously worked with coaches Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs.
Earlier this month, Platenik revealed to Slovakian media he had previously turned down two offers to mentor Raducanu because at the time he considered the job “coaching suicide”.
“Emma also approached me in a similar situation right after a great success (winning he 2021 US Open), which is why I said it could be coaching suicide,” Platenik told Slovak newspaper Dennik N.
“But now she is in a completely different position. She’s already gone through hell, she’s already been through the worst.”
Last month, Raducanu burst into tears during a match at the Dubai Tennis Championships, hiding behind the umpire’s chair after spotting a stalker that “exhibited fixated behaviour”. The man was later banned from all WTA events.
Raducanu will next face America’s Emma Navarro in the second round of the Miami Open on Friday.
Discussion about this post