Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is embarking on a bold new chapter in her tennis journey by enlisting Francisco Roig, a seasoned Spanish coach who spent nearly two decades shaping Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career, as her full-time mentor through the end of 2025. This high-profile partnership, set to kick off at the Cincinnati Open on August 7, 2025, marks Raducanu’s eighth coaching change since her meteoric rise to Grand Slam glory at age 18. With a renewed focus on stability and technical refinement, the 22-year-old British No. 1 is poised to harness Roig’s expertise to climb the WTA rankings and reignite her quest for major titles.
Raducanu’s coaching carousel has been a well-documented saga since her stunning 2021 US Open triumph, where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era. Her frequent changes, including stints with Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Vladimir Platenik, and Nick Cavaday, have often lasted mere months, reflecting her search for the perfect fit. Her most recent collaboration with Mark Petchey, a British commentator and former coach of Andy Murray, began in March 2025 and yielded impressive results, including a WTA 500 semifinal at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., and a quarterfinal at Queen’s Club. However, Petchey’s broadcasting commitments made a full-time role untenable. “We are very aware she needs a second coach to come on board and maybe just one coach, not me, as well,” Petchey said in July, acknowledging the need for a dedicated mentor. He added, “All I am trying to do is facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can.”
Enter Francisco Roig, a 57-year-old coaching veteran whose resume boasts an 18-year tenure with Nadal, contributing to all 22 of the Spaniard’s Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open crowns. Roig, who served as Nadal’s No. 2 coach alongside Toni Nadal, Marc Lopez, and Carlos Moya, is renowned for his technical acumen. “There were many periods when he couldn’t work as hard as he would have liked because of physical problems,” Roig once told L’Equipe about Nadal, explaining how he optimized the Spaniard’s game. “We made sure that all his movements gradually resulted in less energy being expended when he hit the ball.” After parting ways with Nadal in 2022, Roig coached Matteo Berrettini from 2023 to 2024 and briefly worked with Zheng Qinwen, bringing a wealth of experience to Raducanu’s camp.
The partnership with Roig, finalized after a trial period following Raducanu’s third-round exit to Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 2025, signals a shift from her preference for familiar faces like Cavaday, her junior coach. “I think being with a friend I’ve known for a long time in a familiar environment is the best environment for me right now,” Raducanu said of Cavaday last year, but Roig’s pedigree offers a new dynamic. Their collaboration began during Wimbledon discussions, with Roig joining her in Cincinnati for the WTA 1000 event, a crucial US Open warm-up. Raducanu, currently ranked No. 33, aims to break into the top 32 to secure a seed at Flushing Meadows, where she hopes to recapture the magic of her 2021 triumph.
Raducanu’s recent form under Petchey’s guidance has been promising, with a 5-2 record on the North American hardcourt swing, including a standout performance at the Miami Open and a Round of 16 finish at the Italian Open. Despite a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Amanda Anisimova in Montreal, her physical resilience has improved, a point emphasized by British tennis legend Tim Henman. “This is not about the next four weeks for Emma, it’s about the next four years and where she can go,” Henman said, praising Petchey’s impact. “Now she has got a good team around her and I hope she sticks with it.” Petchey will remain a close confidant, offering continuity as Raducanu transitions to Roig’s leadership.
Roig’s technical expertise aligns perfectly with Raducanu’s playing style, characterized by a powerful forehand, a 110 mph serve, and exceptional court coverage. His ability to refine Nadal’s game through injury challenges could help Raducanu address her own physical setbacks, which have included wrist and ankle surgeries. “The more time passed, the more demanding he became of himself in training,” Roig said of Nadal, a mindset he’ll likely instill in Raducanu as she aims to maximize her potential. With the Cincinnati Open offering a chance to build momentum, Raducanu’s partnership with Roig could be the catalyst for a resurgence, blending her raw talent with the strategic brilliance of a coach who helped shape one of tennis’s greatest champions.
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