Emma Raducanu sheds light on ‘competent coach’ Nick Cavaday after firing five coaches
Having fired five coaches in the past, Emma Raducanu has stated that she has a good relationship with her current mentor Nick Cavaday.
Nick Cavaday, Emma Raducanu (Images via Tennis Tonic, X)
Emma Raducanu has been getting all the help she needs from her current coaching team, who were not unfamiliar faces as she has known a few of them since her junior days. Raducanu is in South Korea for the WTA 500 event in Seoul and defeated Peyton Stearns in the first round.
Raducanu has been criticized by a section of the tennis community for firing five coaches in the past, but she seems to have finally found a long-term solution to the coaching problem. She has been working with mentor Nick Cavaday, whom Raducanu called a competent coach.
The relationship with the coach is very good. It’s perfect to be together. Nick is a competent coach but, more importantly, he is a very good person. I think being with a friend I’ve known for a long time in a familiar environment is the best environment for me right now, and I value the time with him.Emma Raducanu said at the press conference
Raducanu worked with Cavaday when she was in her junior days and hired him again at the end of 2023, which was a year to forget for the Brit, as she had three surgeries. Her team also includes Andrew Richardson, who also used to be one of her coaches in her junior days.
Emma Raducanu feels comfortable working with Nick Cavaday
Emma Raducanu had a decent campaign on the grass swing, but before that, she skipped the French Open to prepare for the home tournaments. After reaching the quarterfinals in the Stuttgart Open, Raducanu opened up about her relationship with Nick Cavaday, saying she trusts him and feels comfortable working with him.
Just having people who I knew before I got famous, or I got any of the big whatever [was] coming my way, it was just good to have someone who had known me before that.Emma Raducanu said at the press conference
Raducanu, however, had mediocre performances in the North American hard-court events, for she played only the Citi Open before skipping the Paris Olympics. After the Citi Open, she failed to get the wild cards for the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters and she ended up skipping both. The US Open first-round exit made the 21-year-old admit that she needed some match practice before playing at Flushing Meadows, where she won in 2021.
Raducanu said it was a ‘collective’ decision, meaning that her team was involved. The team seems to have realized its mistake as she has signed up for more tournaments before the end of 2024.
Gouri Das
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