Emma Raducanu will head into Roland Garros with no expectations, and that could make her dangerous.
After all, having barely played any tennis for the last two months, the last thing people would predict is a deep run for the Brit.
For the first time in what feels like forever, she can lose early at a Grand Slam free from the pressure and scrutiny that so often comes after suffering defeats.
And, perhaps most excitingly, she will do it alongside a familiar face but a new coach, with Raducanu having re-hired Andrew Richardson recently, the man who helped guide her to her US Open triumph in 2021.
Naturally, this coaching decision dominated her press conference, and she has discussed their split all those years ago as well as how long they now plan to work together.
Emma Raducanu shares how long she plans to work with Andrew Richardson for
Emma Raducanu began by outlining her excitement to work with Richardson once again.
She stated: “Yeah, I think he’s someone who I’ve known for a very long time, over a decade, and we have a great chemistry, I think, coach-player relationship and, you know, that was evident every time we worked together.
Do you think Emma Raducanu has made a good decision with this hire?
Could you see her winning another Grand Slam title alongside Andrew Richardson?
“So I think after I had a break because I got sick, I wanted to come back in a really authentic way.
“And, yeah, reached out; I didn’t necessarily know where it was going or how it was going to come about, and everything happened very quickly as he was still at the academy, and they were very accommodating in the sense that when I went to train there and also, him being able to start so soon, so it happened very quickly.
“But yeah, just very happy to have him back.”
Then, asked how long she plans to work with him, Raducanu added: “We’re working together for the rest of the year.”
Another reporter also sought to see whether, looking back on her split with Richardson all those years ago, she had any regrets.
Raducanu admitted: “I mean, I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake, because in my life everything changed upside down, and I didn’t really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left, right. I didn’t really know what was going on.
“I think everything also happened very quickly then. I think what it taught me was, a lot of experiences over the last few years, it taught me a lot of what I didn’t want, and it taught me that I really just value having people that I trust and connect with around me.
“So it’s really nice to have that feeling back.”
Emma Raducanu offers fitness update ahead of Roland Garros
What is most important with Raducanu is her health, and over the last few months, that has deserted her.
So, it was only natural that reporters would seek to get a fitness update ahead of Roland Garros, just to gauge expectations.
What did you make of Emma Raducanu’s first performance back on clay?
Her first match in 72 days…
She shared: “I feel a lot better. I thought I’d completely flipped it.
“I think there’s just been a little bit of a lingering cough recently. Like, I can say it because it is what it is, but I feel healthy, which is really good.
“I think it ebbs and flows with it, but much better in terms of physically.
“I played a really positive match last week in Strasbourg in the sense it was over two hours, and I think physically, I pulled up pretty well from it.
“So, yeah, I’m happy to take that and build from it.”
