Emma Raducanu has been chasing a true identity since her life-changing breakthrough in 2021, when, at 18, she stunned the world by winning the US Open. That extraordinary victory was almost certainly an early leap in her career, and she’s since faced more obstacles than expected—struggling to sustain consistency and dealing with a string of injuries.
Her body has let her down at times in recent years, and along the way she’s changed coaches repeatedly, never settling into the stability needed to compete at the sport’s highest level. The 2025 season has been a roller coaster, yet there have been encouraging signs: fewer injuries and a decision to work with a top coach, Francisco Roig, starting mid-year.
That partnership appears to be a long-term one, already extended into 2026, a pivotal year to gauge the true scope of Raducanu’s ambitions as a former world No. 10. For Raducanu to chase the calendar’s biggest prizes, she will need to advance both physically and mentally. Roig, a longtime collaborator of Rafael Nadal, could prove to be the coach who helps her achieve lasting consecration.
Raducanu aims to shine in 2026
In a recent interview with ITV, highly regarded coach Patrick Mouratoglou weighed in on the choices she made after her sensational New York triumph four years ago. He said: “Her potential is immense, but after winning a Grand Slam, the decisions she’s made haven’t always been the right ones. It seems she’s switched coaches too many times in recent years. If you look at players who reach the top, most have spent several years building a stable team before hitting their peak.”
Raducanu’s season also included a setback: another injury forced her to miss the final events of 2025.
