Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis sensation who captivated the world with her 2021 US Open triumph, is at a pivotal moment in her career. As she navigates the highs and lows of professional tennis, tennis legend Martina Navratilova has offered sage advice, urging Raducanu to give her new coach, Francis Roig, time to prove his worth before making any hasty decisions. The call for patience comes as Raducanu embarks on a promising partnership with Roig, a seasoned coach who spent 17 years guiding Rafael Nadal to 22 Grand Slam titles. With the US Open in full swing, Raducanu’s journey with Roig is under the spotlight, and Navratilova’s words resonate as a reminder of the importance of trust and perseverance in the quest for greatness.
Raducanu’s career since her historic US Open victory at 18 has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and challenges. Injuries and inconsistent form have seen her ranking slip from a career-high No. 10 in 2022 to No. 36 as of September 2025. Her frequent coaching changes—Roig is her eighth since 2021—have drawn criticism, with many arguing that her inability to settle with a long-term mentor has hindered her progress. Yet, recent months have shown signs of a resurgence. Raducanu reached the quarter-finals at the Miami Open and pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to three sets at both Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open. Her first-round US Open win against qualifier Ena Shibahara in just 62 minutes marked her fastest professional victory, signaling a renewed confidence under Roig’s guidance.
Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, spoke candidly about Raducanu’s partnership with Roig during a Sky Sports interview. While admitting she hasn’t spoken directly to Roig and doesn’t know his exact coaching philosophy, she emphasized his credentials. “He’s been there for so many years with top players, with Nadal, and he certainly has the experience,” she said. Navratilova stressed the need for patience, noting, “I think you need to give it some time—you can’t after a month judge whether somebody’s a good fit or not—you should kind of know what their philosophy is before you sign up with them and then you need to buy into it and trust the process and trust in the coach that he or she knows what they’re doing and let it play out and take responsibility for yourself as well.” Her advice underscores the importance of commitment, particularly for a player like Raducanu, who has cycled through coaches like Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Andrew Richardson, who led her to that 2021 US Open title.
Roig’s influence is already evident. Raducanu has praised his blunt, no-nonsense approach, which aligns with her own straightforward style. “It’s just, ‘the level needs to be better.’ In a good way, not in a negative way. It’s just calling it how it is,” she said after her Cincinnati Open win over Olga Danilovic. She appreciates his calm demeanor, noting, “There is no stress or panic, which definitely rubs off on me.” Roig’s experience with Nadal brings a wealth of technical and mental expertise, and Raducanu has committed to working with him at least until the end of 2025. Their partnership, which began after a successful post-Wimbledon trial, has shown early promise, with Raducanu visibly more aggressive and accurate in her serving and groundstrokes.
Navratilova also highlighted the critical role of match play in assessing a coach’s impact. “There’s no substitute for match play no matter how much you practise, how much you train. It all comes down to ‘can you do it during matches?’” she said. “Once you get those matches under your belt, then you can build up to it and say, ‘Okay, this part of what the coach is telling me is working really well or this part is not great or I’m not ready for it or this is not the right fit for me.’” Raducanu’s third-round US Open loss to Elena Rybakina (6-1, 6-2) was a setback, but her improved summer campaign, including a positive atmosphere on the practice court, suggests she’s on an upward trajectory. Her next challenge is the Korea Open on September 15, followed by an exhibition match against Amanda Anisimova at “A Racquet at the Rock” in New Jersey on December 7.
As Raducanu looks to climb the rankings and secure a seeding at the 2026 Australian Open, Navratilova’s call to “trust the process” is a timely reminder. Roig’s experience and Raducanu’s renewed belief in her game could be the formula to unlock her potential. With her talent undeniable and her health improving, the tennis world watches eagerly to see if this partnership can help Raducanu reclaim her place among the elite.
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