On this chilly morning of March 20, 2025, the tennis world is abuzz with the latest twist in Emma Raducanu’s ever-evolving career narrative. The 22-year-old British star, whose meteoric rise to the 2021 US Open title captivated fans globally, has once again parted ways with a coach—this time after a mere two weeks. Vladimir “Vlado” Platenik, a seasoned Slovakian tactician with a resume boasting names like Daria Kasatkina and Dominika Cibulkova, stepped into Raducanu’s camp on a trial basis earlier this month. But just one match into their partnership—a first-round loss at Indian Wells—the collaboration has unraveled, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads. The reason? A candid, and somewhat awkward, interview Platenik gave shortly after joining her team, which seems to have tipped the scales.
Raducanu’s journey since her Flushing Meadows triumph has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, marked by injuries, inconsistent form, and a revolving door of coaches. Platenik was her latest attempt at finding stability, announced with cautious optimism just 14 days ago as she prepared for the California desert showdown. Their lone outing together ended in defeat to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, a match that hinted at the steep climb ahead for the former world No. 10. Yet, it wasn’t the loss that sealed their fate—it was Platenik’s own words. In a revealing chat with Slovakian media, he admitted to turning down two prior offers from Raducanu and her father, Ian, back in 2021, calling it “coaching suicide” at the time due to her post-US Open hype. “Emma also approached me in a similar situation right after a great success,” he said, reflecting on her peak. “But now she is in a completely different position—she’s already gone through hell, she’s already been through the worst.”
Those remarks, intended perhaps as context for his eventual acceptance, landed like a misfired serve. They painted a picture of reluctance, suggesting he’d only joined her now that her star had dimmed from its dazzling 2021 heights. For Raducanu, who’s been vocal about needing trust and alignment with her team, the comments likely felt like a breach. “Emma and Vlado have parted ways,” a statement from her camp confirmed this week. “Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started, but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction.” The split was swift, with Platenik absent from her box as she took to the Miami Open courts on Wednesday, dispatching teenage wildcard Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-2 in a brisk 66 minutes—a win that showed her resilience amid the chaos.
This latest chapter adds to Raducanu’s reputation as a player unafraid to shake things up. Since her Grand Slam glory, she’s cycled through a half-dozen coaches, from Andrew Richardson—who guided her to that historic title—to Nick Cavaday, whose 14-month stint ended in January due to his health priorities. “I am very happy to have been able to work with Emma over the last 14 months,” Cavaday had said, leaving her ranked inside the top 60. Platenik’s brief tenure, though, stands out for its brevity, even by her standards. His exit leaves her leaning on familiar faces from the Lawn Tennis Association—Colin Beecher and Jane O’Donoghue—alongside fitness guru Yutaka Nakamura, as she navigates Miami’s treacherous draw.
The tennis community is split on what this means for Raducanu. Some see her frequent changes as a sign of indecision, a young star struggling to find her footing after a fairy-tale breakthrough. Others view it as a fierce independence—she’s admitted to asking probing questions that some coaches can’t handle. “I’m not someone you can just tell what to do and I’ll do it,” she’s said in the past, hinting at a mind that demands understanding over blind obedience. Platenik, for his part, had seemed optimistic, noting, “I want to help Emma, and if both parties recognize that I am successful, I believe that the relationship will last longer.” Two weeks, it turns out, wasn’t enough to test that theory.
As she eyes a second-round clash with No. 8 seed Emma Navarro in Miami, Raducanu’s focus remains unshaken. “It’s going to be an extremely challenging match,” she predicted, acknowledging Navarro’s form. “I can go out and try to express myself and compete for every point.” Off the court, though, the search for “the right coach” continues—a quest that’s become as much a part of her story as her blistering forehands. With a career still brimming with potential, the question lingers: will she find the steady hand to guide her back to the top, or is this revolving door destined to spin for years to come? For now, Miami offers a fresh canvas, and Raducanu, ever the enigma, is ready to paint it her way.
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