Emma Raducanu's tennis season has come to an end, but her journey continues with a familiar face by her side.
The talented athlete, Emma Raducanu, has decided to take a break from competition due to illness. This means she'll miss the upcoming WTA tournaments in Tokyo and Hong Kong. But here's the intriguing part: she's already looking ahead to the next chapter, and it involves her coach, Francisco Roig.
A Partnership That Endures
Raducanu and Roig, a former coach of tennis legend Rafael Nadal, have confirmed that their collaboration will extend into 2026. This news comes as a relief to fans, as it signifies stability and continuity in Raducanu's career.
The past week hasn't been easy for Raducanu. She had to retire mid-match against Ann Li at the Wuhan Open due to illness. The oppressive heat and humidity took a toll on her, and she even had her blood pressure checked during the match. This incident, coupled with her defeat to Zhu Lin at the Ningbo Open, highlights the physical challenges she's faced this season.
Despite these setbacks, Raducanu has achieved an impressive ranking of No. 29 for 2025. She's played a remarkable 50 matches this season, a first for her career, and this ranking puts her in a good position for the upcoming Australian Open.
A Year of Growth and Challenges
This year hasn't been without its fair share of difficulties. Raducanu had to deal with a disturbing incident at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, where a man displayed fixated behavior towards her. This led to a restraining order being issued by Dubai authorities.
Since then, Raducanu has shown resilience, consistently winning against players ranked similarly or lower. However, her defeats against the top players have been a mix of one-sided matches and instances where she let go of advantageous positions.
And this is the part most people miss: Raducanu and Roig have been working on a strategy to address this. They believe she needs to trust her attacking instincts more and be less reliant on her defensive abilities. Their hard work has paid off, as Raducanu's overall game has improved significantly. In fact, she held match points against Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková and top-five player Jessica Pegula recently.
Looking Ahead: The Challenge of Consistency
The focus now shifts to the upcoming season, and the key challenge for Raducanu and Roig is to maintain the progress they've made while raising the bar even higher. It's about finding consistency and converting those close calls into wins.
Senior tennis editor James Hansen sums it up perfectly: "Emma Raducanu has established a higher floor and hit a familiar ceiling." This season, she's proven her ability to compete at a high level, and now the goal is to sustain that level of play and push even further.
As we reflect on Raducanu's journey so far, it's clear that her partnership with Roig has been instrumental in her development. The question remains: Can they continue to raise the bar and help Raducanu reach new heights in her career?
What are your thoughts on Emma Raducanu's season and her partnership with Francisco Roig? Do you think they can overcome the challenges and achieve even greater success? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below!
