Emma Raducanu has reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to an improbable US Open title in 2021, after what she described as 'just a text' that reignited their professional relationship. The pair were back on court together this week at the National Tennis Centre in London, nearly five years after their fairytale run in New York saw the then-18-year-old qualify and win the tournament without dropping a set.
Raducanu, now 22, split from Richardson shortly after that triumph, a decision that raised eyebrows at the time. Since then, she has worked with a string of high-profile coaches, including Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Nick Cavaday, but has struggled to recapture the consistency and confidence of that golden fortnight. Speaking about the reunion, Raducanu said: 'It was just a text, really. I asked if he was free, and he said yes. It feels good to be working with someone who knows my game and who I trust completely. I'm enjoying tennis again, and that's the most important thing.'
Richardson, who had stepped back from top-level coaching in recent years, acknowledged the unusual nature of their reunion. 'It's rare in tennis to come back to a partnership like this, but Emma and I always had a great connection,' he said. 'She's matured a lot as a person and a player. The hunger is still there, and I think we can build something solid again.' The pair have not yet confirmed a long-term commitment, but sources close to Raducanu suggest they will work together through the grass-court season, with Wimbledon as a primary target.
The reunion comes at a critical juncture for the British No 2. Raducanu has slipped to 72nd in the WTA rankings, partly due to injuries and inconsistent scheduling. However, she has shown signs of a resurgence this year, including a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open and a quarter-final appearance in Stuttgart. Her powerful baseline game and court sense remain intact, but mental resilience and physical durability have been recurring challenges. Richardson's calm, structured approach may provide the stability she has lacked.
For British tennis fans, the news is a tantalising throwback to one of the most remarkable sporting stories in recent memory. Raducanu's 2021 US Open victory was the first by a British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977, and her subsequent struggles have been closely followed. If this reunion can restore even a fraction of that magic, it could be transformative for her career and for the profile of the sport in the UK. The next few months will be telling.