Emma Raducanu has delivered her first update since hiring Francisco Roig as her new coach.
Although the Spaniard has only joined on a temporary basis, with the British number one spending a trial period with him first, the wealth of experience he boasts will surely be of great interest to her.
After all, what he can offer her is limitless, having spent so many years with Rafael Nadal during the bulk of his glittering career.
The two have begun their union following her exit at the Canadian Open, having lost to Amanda Anisimova in straight sets.
And now, speaking to Sky Sports, she has already revealed what they have instantly started working on.
Emma Raducanu on how it’s going with her new coach
The 22-year-old began by insisting: “It’s going really well.”
Although only a short spell thus far, as she alludes to, Emma Raducanu admitted that they have already identified a key plan of action to rectify a key issue in her game that is preventing her from beating the top players.
Over the last few months, she has threatened to challenge the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng, but failed to convert in the crucial moments to make her momentum pay. On another day, she could have been the one to knock the world number one out of Wimbledon.
Alas, it was not to be, and it’s back to the practice court to try and find a solution.
Roig has already seemingly developed one idea, as Raducanu revealed: “It’s my second day with him here, but I did a few days in London before I came out here. He’s obviously got a bank of experience, and I’m very excited to continue working with him and to have him on my side.
“I’m working on the quality of my shots to be better. I think, you know, to get to the very top, that’s what it needs. It needs to improve. So I’m hoping that with time, I’m pretty patient. I’m going to try and be pretty patient, but yeah, [I’m confident] that it will improve.”
Who is Emma Raducanu’s new coach Francisco Roig?
Roig was far from Nadal’s most renowned coach during his playing days, but his importance was clearly evident.
He stayed by the Spaniard’s side for 17 years, enjoying a remarkable stint from 2005 until 2022, where he then spent just shy of a year with Matteo Berrettini.
Raducanu hiring Roig marks his first foray back into tennis coaching since that role.
An esteemed doubles player, who only ever reached a career-high of 60th in the singles world rankings, Roig clearly has the tactical eye needed to succeed at the top level, combined with the experience gained across his 14-year playing career.
All 22 of Nadal’s Grand Slam titles came with the 57-year-old in his corner.
Raducanu will be hoping that she can gain just a taste of that success with Roig by her side.
