Emma Raducanu recently axed her seventh coach.
Emma Raducanu recently confirmed that she had parted ways with another coach after a two-week trial. The British No.2 enlisted Vladimir ‘Vlado’ Platenik in Indian Wells earlier this month. But he was nowhere to be seen at the Miami Open and Raducanu confirmed their trial was over.
Platenik is the seventh coach Raducanu has split with since making her professional debut in the summer of 2021. Throughout her young career, the 22-year-old has flitted between a mix of top WTA Tour coaches and familiar childhood mentors. And Express Sport has rated the different instructors who have put Raducanu through her paces.
Vladimir ‘Vlado’ Platenik – F
Platenik can only go down as an F after his trial with Raducanu lasted no more than 14 days. The world No. 60 announced their trial ahead of her first-round match in Indian Wells but their partnership was already over by the time she played her opening match in Miami two weeks later.
Raducanu said she had the “utmost respect” for Platenik but that “it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction.”
Emma Raducanu recently confirmed that she had parted ways with another coach after a two-week trial. The British No.2 enlisted Vladimir ‘Vlado’ Platenik in Indian Wells earlier this month. But he was nowhere to be seen at the Miami Open and Raducanu confirmed their trial was over.
Platenik is the seventh coach Raducanu has split with since making her professional debut in the summer of 2021. Throughout her young career, the 22-year-old has flitted between a mix of top WTA Tour coaches and familiar childhood mentors. And Express Sport has rated the different instructors who have put Raducanu through her paces.
Platenik can only go down as an F after his trial with Raducanu lasted no more than 14 days. The world No. 60 announced their trial ahead of her first-round match in Indian Wells but their partnership was already over by the time she played her opening match in Miami two weeks later.
Raducanu said she had the “utmost respect” for Platenik but that “it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction.”
After linking up with the Brit, Platenik gave an awkward interview to Slovakian newspaper Dennik N. He said he turned down two approaches from the Raducanu camp earlier in her career because it would have been “coaching suicide.”
However, Platenik had a glowing review of the week he spent working with Raducanu in Florida, telling the Telegraph: “Emma is super talented and I hope she could take some of my advice for the future. I wish her all the best. I never had a player who improved as fast as Emma.”
Nick Cavaday – A
One of Raducanu’s childhood coaches, Cavaday joined her team ahead of the 2024 season and stayed with the world No. 60 for 14 months – the longest partnership of her professional career. The length of their cooperation alone deserves high marks.
Cavaday only left her team to spend more time at home due to chronic health issues. But he helped Raducanu find some consistency last year – she reached the Nottingham semis, four tour-level quarter-finals, and the last 16 at Wimbledon. Most importantly, he clearly earned Raducanu’s trust.
Sebastian Sachs – B
Sachs and Raducanu split because she had to shut down her 2023 season in the spring to have three surgeries and spent months unable to train or compete. They had only been working together for a few months when “circumstances made it unfeasible” to continue.
The German coach said it was a “pity” their work had to end and added: “I like Emma and we worked very well together on the court.” Raducanu enjoyed success with Sachs – she beat two top-20 seeds to reach the last 16 in Indian Wells despite carrying lingering injuries. Their partnership seemed to be going well but didn’t last long enough to rate it any higher.