Emma Raducanu is on the hunt for a new coach following the departure of Nick Cavaday, who stepped down after the Australian Open to prioritise his health. After a disappointing campaign in Singapore, Raducanu will look to bounce back and secure big wins in the coming months.
For the Abu Dhabi Open, Croatian coach Roman Kelecic will temporarily work with the British star. However, Raducanu is still searching for a full-time head coach, taking her time to find the right fit for her team.
A rough patch for Raducanu
Her 2021 US Open title seems like a distant memory when she became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title. Since then, Raducanu has struggled to recapture that level of form, failing to match the high expectations set by her early success.
In 2025, there were hopes of a resurgence, but her Australian Open campaign ended in disappointment. She suffered a third-round defeat to world number one Iga Świątek, managing to win just one game against the dominant Polish star.
Despite these challenges, Raducanu has shown steady progress, particularly under Cavaday’s guidance. After an eight-month break due to surgeries, she remained inside the world’s top 60, demonstrating her resilience.
Cavaday’s decision to step down due to health reasons was difficult for both parties, and Raducanu expressed her gratitude for their time together, speaking to The National:
“It’s difficult. Nick is a great person. He’s someone I’ve known since I was a young girl, and he coached me before, so I think we were working well together,” Raducanu said.
“Unfortunately, he had to prioritise his health, which I completely understand, and I support him and wish him the speediest of recoveries.”
Looking for a new coach
Emma Raducanu
Raducanu travelled to Singapore accompanied by her mother and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. However, for the Abu Dhabi Open, she will be working temporarily with Roman Kelecic.
The two have history, as Kelecic coached her during her junior ITF days. Speaking about their connection, Raducanu shared how they reunited:
“He travelled with me when I was like 14, 15, in the junior ITF; we went to all the glamorous places together when we were younger in the juniors,” she told The National.
“And we haven’t honestly seen each other in so many years. But he’s based out of Dubai, and in this situation, I wanted to see him anyway to catch up. So I texted him to catch up, and now he’s on court with me, so he will help me out this week.”
However, Raducanu is in no rush to appoint a full-time coach, making sure she finds the right person for the job.
“I think that’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away because I want to make sure it’s a right fit,” she explained.
“And this period where I don’t necessarily have someone will tell me a lot. It will teach me a lot about what I want and don’t want to look for in the next person.”
A patient approach to rebuilding
Raducanu’s thoughtful and measured approach to finding a new coach reflects her commitment to her career. She is using this transition period to understand what she values in a coach, ensuring she makes the right decision for her future.
Despite the challenges of the past few years, Raducanu remains a phenomenal talent with immense potential. Her resilience and determination continue to inspire fans, and it will be fascinating to see how she develops her game and team in the coming months.
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