Emma Raducanu has enjoyed her best season on the WTA Tour since 2021 – the year she won her maiden Grand Slam title.
Raducanu, the British number one, enjoyed her best-ever results at the Australian Open and French Open, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Washington Open and the Miami Open quarter-finals.
Under the tutelage of Mark Petchey [pictured below, left], Raducanu enjoyed the most consistent period of her career – a period in which she defeated world number 10 Emma Navarro and made the Queen’s Club Championships quarter-finals.
Raducanu, who has a 28-22 record in 2025, began working with Rafael Nadal’s former coach – Francisco Roig – ahead of the US Open. The pair are set to work together until the end of the year.
Raducanu has struggled to make her mark on the Tour while under Roig’s tutelage thus far, struggling significantly throughout the Asian swing.
However, the pair have worked together for a short amount of time, and should not be judged too harshly.
After all, Roig has already initiated a significant shift in the focus of Emma Raducanu’s training.
Emma Raducanu says Francisco Roig is focusing on improving her ‘base level’
“He [Roig] wants me to focus a lot more on building a better Emma Raducanu and a better base level,” Raducanu told BBC Sport.
How likely is it that Emma Raducanu wins another Grand Slam, and why?
“It’s something that I don’t think I’ve done before. I’ve always been more tactical, more just having to exploit their weaknesses if they have any.
“He’s trying to build a better quality, not necessarily by changing my physiological capacities, but by using better technique, better timing and better movement.
“I think being able to dictate the game a lot more is a goal of mine, so I don’t necessarily have to run as much.”
Raducanu, who played 22 tournaments this year, will hope that these changes in focus will aid her when competing in the 2026 Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu comments on the tennis calendar
This year, the tennis schedule has been the most talked-about issue. Many of the best players on the professional circuit have voiced concerns regarding the hectic nature of the Tours, and a lack of time to recover.
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek have been particularly vocal in their criticism.
Emma Raducanu has weighed in on the issue, providing a balanced take.
She told BBC Sport: “It’s not all glamorous [the tennis calendar]. There are definitely times when it’s difficult and we are flagging mentally, physically and everything hurts.
“But at the same time, what are we going to do about it?”
What does Emma Raducanu need to improve in 2026?
If they [young people] see all the top players moaning about the calendar, I don’t think that’s necessarily inspiring to look up to.”
Raducanu achieved her highest year-end ranking since 2022. The Brit, ranked 29 in the world, will be a seeded player at the 2026 Australian Open.
