Rehiring Richardson looks to have been a masterstroke.
Under his tuition she has played four tour-level tournaments – including the 2021 US Open and this year’s Queen’s – and won 14 of her 17 matches.
Richardson is an old-school coach who brings volume to create good habits – basically, hitting plenty of balls and putting in the hard yards.
Known as a ‘gentle giant’, Raducanu says Richardson also has a fiery side that ignites the competitive spark in her.
His messaging can sometimes be sparse, but the targeted input has an impact with a player who likes to be challenged by her coaches.
During the second set against Vekic, Richardson could be heard telling Raducanu to drive returns up the middle of the court – to drag her opponent into the longer duels that she did not relish.
It was a tactic which changed the complexion of the match.
“It’s great to have him back. I think we have been working on this game style. The whole week I have been playing really, really good tennis and the brand of tennis that I really want to play,” Raducanu said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily the old Emma. I think it’s the new Emma.
“You take all the lessons and experience, all the different ups and downs, and you take everything. You understand a lot more what’s going on and what works for you.”
Raducanu has shown she plays better when surrounded by long-time confidants who she trusts implicitly.
On home turf, with a swell of support from friends and fans, it has been striking how relaxed and happy she has looked at Queen’s – enabling her to play with the freedom she craves.
The positive vibes which the British grass events provide Raducanu have also been evident at Wimbledon where, aside from her fairytale in New York, she has produced the best Slam results of her career.
