‘Expectations will be very high’: Maria Sharapova’s former mentor Michael Joyce warns coaches off working with Emma Raducanu
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Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu has become a superstar of the game in no time. She came into the US Open as World No. 150 and after battling through the qualifiers, the star player went on to lift the trophy. Evidently, she became the go-to celeb for brands that were looking for a face that can attract audiences globally.
In no time, Raducanu became the showstopper at various global events. However, she took the world by surprise when she announced that she will part ways with her coach Andrew Richardson and will look for a rather experienced coach. This indeed was difficult to swallow for a lot of fans who thought that Andrew’s stint will be extended as he guided Raducanu to her maiden Grand Slam title win.
Raducanu played at Indian Wells after a great outing at the US Open and fans were expecting a lot from the Brit. However, she was defeated in her very first clash and after the game, she claimed that she is looking for an experienced coach to guide her to great heights.
‘If she fails, people will say it’s because of the coach’: Michael Joyce
“I’d love to have someone with great experience right now by my side so if any experienced coaches are out there looking, you know where to find me,” she said after losing to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in her opening encounter at Indian Wells. However, Maria Sharapova’s former mentor Michael Joyce has suggested that not a lot of coaches would be willing to take up the challenge.
He said that it was surprising to see Raducanu part ways with her coach a successful outing at the US Open. “I was really surprised with the wording of the statement that was released when Emma announced she was splitting with Andrew Richardson, saying she felt she needed someone with Tour-level experience,” he said.
“I didn’t like the statement. If you have a good coach and it works well, then you’d think you would want to stick with them. Why would you want a big-name coach?” he added. Joyce went on to say that Raducanu’s new coach will be under tremendous pressure as the world will blame him if she fails to win big tournaments.
“She’s a great player but it’s going to be a tough job for the next coach, as expectations are high. If she goes to the Australian Open next year and goes out early, people will say it’s because of the coach,” he stated.
Also Read: WATCH: 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu showcasing her Golf skills
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Shubham Bhargava
(1813 Articles Published)