Tim Henman has backed Emma Raducanu’s decision to reappoint US Open-winning coach Andrew Richardson ahead of a huge summer of tennis for the British No 1.
Raducanu was strongly criticised for axing Richardson shortly after her stunning win in New York in 2021, citing the need for a coach with WTA Tour experience as the reason for the split.
She reunites with her old coach five and a half years after their initial partnership, continuing a pattern of Raducanu favouring coaches who she worked with prior to her rapid ascent to superstardom – a decision that former British No 1 Henman views as correct.
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Tim Henman and Laura Robson are delighted to hear that Emma Raducanu feels fit enough to get back on the match court and feel if she can stay healthy, the results will come
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Karthi Gnanasegaram discusses Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal from the Italian Open, moments after finishing her media duties prior to the tournament
“I think it’s great that Andrew is back to support Emma and all I can say is I hope it lasts a bit longer,” Henman said on Sky Sports.
“They had an incredible run in America all those years ago and it stopped working after that. She’s been through a lot of other coaches between now and then.
“They obviously have a relationship from the past – Emma obviously trusts Andrew – and I think that consistency and continuity is really important, especially at this time of year.
“She’s got the French Open coming up, but then the grass court season, where the spotlight is going to be at its most intense – pre-Wimbledon and at Wimbledon.”
Emma Raducanu of Britain reacts after winning a point against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand during their first round match at the Austra
Richardson preceded and now follows in the footsteps of Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, while she has frequently turned to another former coach, Jane O’Donoghue, for support and advice.
Raducanu set tongues wagging when she spent a week practising with Richardson at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain last month.
She played down talk of a permanent reunion at the time having said previously she was not actively looking for a replacement for her most recent coach, Francisco Roig, from whom she split following the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu, Indian Wells tennis 2026 (Getty Images)
Raducanu has played only four tournaments since then, reaching her first final since the US Open in Romania in early February but picking up a virus that affected her in the Middle East and Indian Wells before she decided to step away from the tour.
Raducanu pulled out of events in Miami, Linz, Madrid and Rome but has taken a wild card into Strasbourg to give her time on the clay prior to the French Open, which begins on May 24.
The 23-year-old is set to slip to 37th in the rankings next week, meaning she will not be seeded at Roland Garros.
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