Emma Raducanu Reunites with Coach Andrew Richardson on Permanent Basis

Emma Raducanu has reunited with coach Andrew Richardson - who helped guide her to the US Open title as a teenage qualifier - on a permanent basis. Raducanu and Richardson are formally working together in Strasbourg in preparation for the WTA clay-court tournament, the final warm-up event before the French Open. The pair have agreed to a full-time partnership, meaning Raducanu intends to be guided by the 52-year-old Briton at Wimbledon and beyond.

Raducanu initially linked up with Richardson earlier this month at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain, where he has been the tennis director for several years, for a short training session in preparation for her clay-court season.

[I'm] grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time, British number one Raducanu said. With Richardson in the coaching box, Raducanu made history by winning the US Open without dropping a set as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021. The 23-year-old is set to make her return to action in Strasbourg, 10 weeks after losing to American Amanda Anisimova in the Indian Wells third round on 8 March. She has been granted a wildcard for the tournament as she seeks match practice before the French Open, the second Grand Slam event of the year, which begins on 24 May. Following her absence from the tour, caused by a post-viral infection, Raducanu is set to miss out on a top-32 seeded position at Roland Garros after slipping to 37 in the world rankings. Raducanu parted ways with Richardson after her US Open win, and has been without a permanent coach since parting ways with Francisco Roig after her second-round exit from the Australian Open in January. In the five years since Raducanu stunned the world by winning the US Open, a question has often been posed by those seeking answers about her progress - or lack of it. Why did she not continue with the guy who guided her to that unfathomable victory? At the time, the split was often portrayed as a natural parting of the ways at the end of Richardson's contract - as he wanted to focus on his job at the Ferrer Academy. Richardson later disputed that narrative, indicating he would have been happy to carry on. It was also suggested Raducanu wanted a coach with greater experience of the WTA Tour. Wherever the truth lies, enough water has passed under the bridge for the pair to attempt to revive their spectacular winning formula. Raducanu played with an aggressive fearlessness during that unforgettable run at Flushing Meadows, taking returns early and hustling her opponents as she did not drop a set. She has rarely played with the same intent, belief and freedom since. After a dismal Australian Open second-round exit in January, she discussed at length how she yearned to play in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger. Raducanu feels more relaxed - and therefore plays better - when she is surrounded by long-time confidants who she trusts implicitly. Therefore, it seems natural that the carousel nature of her appointments - having gone through several full-time coaches, as well as a series of ad hoc guidance - goes back to almost the very start. After previously turning to Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, who have both known her since she was a child, Richardson is the latest familiar face who will attempt to help her kick-start a career which has failed to live up to its early promise.